JP5187288B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system in which a plurality of printing apparatuses capable of setting a power saving mode are connected via a network.

Today, the preservation of the global environment is screamed worldwide, and printing devices such as printers and copiers are required to reduce power consumption. For example, in order to reduce power consumption, the temperature of the fixing unit during non-operation is lowered and sleep mode setting processing is performed. In this process, when the printing apparatus is not operating for a certain period of time, the power supply to the printing apparatus in a certain range is stopped to reduce power consumption.
Further, Patent Document 1 discloses which printing apparatus a user can use by notifying the personal computer of sleep mode setting information in a printing apparatus connected to a personal computer (PC) via a network. We propose a system that you can know.

JP-A-10-187373

However, when multiple printing devices are used via a network, the power may be turned off automatically depending on the conditions of a single printing device, or the printing device may be turned off by a key operation of the host device. Sometimes Accordingly, in some cases, a state where all the printing apparatuses connected to the network are turned off may occur. In such a case, if it is necessary to use the printing apparatus urgently, it is necessary to turn on the printing apparatus again and wait until the printing process is possible.
In the case of Patent Document 1, since the status of the printing apparatus is notified on the personal computer (PC), the status of the printing apparatus can be grasped, but the power of all the printing apparatuses may be turned off. In such a case, similarly to the above, in an emergency, the printing apparatus must be turned on again and wait until printing processing becomes possible.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention provides a printing system that sets a power supply to at least one printing apparatus when a plurality of printing apparatuses are connected via a network. .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the printing system in which the first printing device and the second printing device are connected via a network, the first printing device is an address of the first printing device. A power-off confirmation request including information and power-off setting time information to the second printing apparatus, and the power of the apparatus is turned on based on reception of a power-off acceptance response from the second printing apparatus. A power-off processing means for turning off, and when the power-off confirmation request is input, the second printing apparatus compares the power-off setting time with its own power-off setting time to determine its own power-off setting. When the time is late, this can be achieved by providing a printing system having control means for transmitting the power-off acceptance response to the first printing apparatus.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, the power-off confirmation request for the first printing apparatus further includes information on the latest printing time, and the second printing apparatus includes its own power-off setting time and the power-off setting time. When the power-off set time of the first printing apparatus is the same, the latest printing time of the first printing apparatus is compared with the latest printing time transmitted from the first printing apparatus, and the latest printing time of the first printing apparatus is later, This can be achieved by providing a printing system that transmits the power-off acceptance response to the first printing apparatus.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the power-off confirmation request for the first printing device further includes information on a power-on time, and the second printing device has its own latest printing time. And the latest printing time of the first printing device are the same, the power-on time of the device is compared with the power-on time transmitted from the first printing device, and the power-on time of the device is later. In this case, it can be achieved by providing a printing system that transmits the power-off acceptance response to the first printing apparatus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing system in which the first to nth printing apparatuses are connected via a network, the first printing apparatus includes address information of the first printing apparatus. And a transmission means for transmitting a power-off confirmation request including information on the power-off setting time to the second to n-th printing devices, and reception of a power-off acceptance response from the second to n-th printing devices. The second to n-th printing devices compare the power-off setting time with their own power-off setting time when the power-off confirmation request is input. Then, when the power-off setting time of the device is late, this can be achieved by providing a printing system having a control unit that transmits the power-off acceptance response to the first printing apparatus.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the power-off confirmation request for the first printing device further includes information on the latest printing time, and the second to n-th printing devices have their own If the power-off setting time is the same as the power-off setting time of the first printing device, the latest printing time of the first printing device is compared with the latest printing time transmitted from the first printing device. If it is slower, it can be achieved by providing a printing system that transmits the power-off acceptance response to the first printing apparatus.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the power-off confirmation request for the first printing apparatus further includes information on a power-on time, and the second to n-th printing apparatuses are self- If the latest printing time and the latest printing time of the first printing apparatus are the same, the self-power-on time and the power-on time transmitted from the first printing apparatus are further compared, and the self-power-on time If it is slower, it can be achieved by providing a printing system that transmits the power-off acceptance response to the first printing device.

  According to the present invention, when a plurality of printing apparatuses are connected via a network, at least one printing apparatus is powered on, and when printing processing is urgently required, rapid processing is performed. It can be performed.

It is a block diagram of the printing apparatus of this example connected to the network. It is a figure which shows the structure of an operation panel. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a data flow of a printing apparatus and a flow of setting a power-off condition. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example in which another printing apparatus is connected to a network. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing on the printing apparatus side according to the present exemplary embodiment. 10 is a flowchart for explaining processing on the other printing apparatus side of the embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the processing of this embodiment typically. It is a figure explaining the data format of a power-off acceptance command. It is a figure explaining the data format of a power-off confirmation command.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printing apparatus of this example connected to a network.
The printing apparatus 1 is connected to a personal computer (PC) which is a host device via a network such as a LAN (local area network). A plurality of printing apparatuses having the same configuration as that of the printing apparatus 1 are connected on the network. A plurality of printing apparatuses 1 connected to the network basically have the same configuration. Therefore, the internal configuration of the printing apparatus 1 will be described on behalf of the printing apparatus used in this example.

  The printing apparatus 1 includes an interface controller unit 1a and a print engine unit 1b. The interface controller unit 1a includes an image memory 2, a drawing unit 3, a transmission / reception control unit 4, a setting processing unit 5, a time management unit 6, an operation panel control unit (hereinafter simply referred to as a panel control unit) 7, a print control unit 8, An operation panel (operation panel) 10 is connected to the panel control unit 7, which includes a nonvolatile memory 9 such as a flash memory. The print control unit 8 is connected to the print engine unit 1b, and the print engine unit 1b includes a power-off function 11 of the printing apparatus 1 of this example. The printing apparatus 1 is also provided with a power saving management / determination unit described later.

  The printing apparatus 1 sends print data from a personal computer (PC) supplied via the transmission / reception control unit 4 to the drawing unit 3, converts it into drawing data, and writes it in the image memory 2. The print control unit 8 transmits the drawing data written in the image memory 2 to the print engine unit 1b, and performs printing processing on a sheet (recording medium) by driving the print engine unit 1b.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the operation panel 10. The operation panel 10 includes an LCD display unit 14, an LED display unit 15, and a key unit 16. The LCD display unit 14 and the LED display unit 15 display information such as a status display of the printing apparatus 1 and key operation procedures. The key unit 16 includes a numeric keypad (not shown), an enter key, a direction key, an online key, a power-off key, and the like, and transmits a key operation signal to the panel control unit 7 according to a key operation by the user. The power off key of the key unit 16 is controlled by software, and operates according to the conditions of a power off function described later via the print control unit 8.

  In the above configuration, FIG. 3 shows the flow of data of the printing apparatus 1 used in this example and the flow of setting the power-off condition. First, (a) shown in the figure shows the flow of print data from the personal computer (PC). The print data created according to the application of the personal computer (PC) is controlled by the transmission / reception control unit 4 as described above. The image is transmitted to the drawing unit 3, analyzed by the drawing unit 3, and developed in the image memory 2. For example, when drawing data for one page is developed in the image memory 2, the drawing data is transferred to the print engine unit 1b via the print control unit 8, and printing processing on paper (recording medium) as described above. Is done.

  Next, (b) shown in the figure shows the flow of processing for setting the power-off condition. The user operates the numeric keypad, the enter key, the direction key, etc. of the operation panel 10 to set the power-off setting time, etc. described later. Data is supplied to the setting processing unit 5. Also, (c) shown in the figure shows the flow of processing for setting the power-off condition from the personal computer (PC), and the user operates the keyboard and mouse of the personal computer (PC) to set the power-off setting time, etc. Data can also be supplied to the setting processing unit 5.

  Information such as the power-off setting time, the power-on time when the power of the printing apparatus 1 of this example is turned on, and the latest printing time are input to the setting processing unit 5, and as shown in FIG. The various information input to the setting processing unit 5 is written in the nonvolatile memory 9.

  FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which, in addition to the printing apparatus 1 having the above configuration, another printing apparatus 21 having the same configuration is connected to the network. The other printing device 21 has basically the same configuration as the printing device 1 and includes an image memory, a drawing unit, a transmission / reception control unit, a setting processing unit, a time management unit, a panel control unit, a nonvolatile memory, and a print engine unit. Etc.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 5E, the time when the print data transmitted from the personal computer (PC) is command-analyzed by the drawing unit 3 and the development processing to the image memory 2 is completed is the time management unit 6. The end time information is also written in the nonvolatile memory 9.

In the above configuration, the processing operation of this example will be described below.
5 and 6 are flowcharts for explaining the processing operation of this example. For example, FIG. 5 shows processing on the printing apparatus 1 side, and FIG. 6 shows processing on the printing apparatus 21 side. FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the above processing operation. 7 shows the configuration of the power saving management / determination unit 12 described above. The power saving management / determination unit 12 has a power-off setting time read by the setting processing unit 5 from the nonvolatile memory 9 ((( g)), the current time read from the time management unit 6 ((f) in the figure), a power-off acceptance command input from the other printing apparatus 21 ((h) in the figure), and a drawing unit The processing described later is performed on the basis of the notification (i) in FIG.

  First, in the processing on the printing apparatus 1 side shown in FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not a power-off acceptance command has been received (step (hereinafter referred to as S) 1). This power-off acceptance command is a command received in response to the output of a power-off confirmation command described later, and FIG. 8 shows the format of this command. For example, the power-off acceptance command includes, for example, a transmission destination address, a transmission source address, and a power-off acceptance command. The transmission destination address is, for example, an address on the network of the printing apparatus 1, and the transmission source address is, for example, an address on the network of the printing apparatus 21. The power-off acceptance command is a command for permitting turning off the power of the received printing apparatus (for example, the printing apparatus 1).

Here, the first determination (S1) is NO because the printing apparatus 1 has not yet transmitted the power-off confirmation command.
Next, the printing apparatus 1 acquires the installation time (S2). The acquisition of the set time is the power-off setting time stored in the nonvolatile memory 9 by the above-described processing, and is information in which the user of the printing apparatus 1 sets the time when the printing apparatus 1 is turned off. 5 reads this information from the nonvolatile memory 9.

  Next, it is determined whether it is in an idle state for a certain period (S3). This predetermined period is a preset period. If the fixed period is in an idle state, the current time is read (S4). The current time reading process is executed when the setting processing unit 5 reads the current time from the time management unit 6.

  Next, the current time information read from the time management unit 6 is compared with the power-off setting time described above. If the current time has not passed the power-off setting time (S5 is NO), the power-off setting time is the current time. The above process is repeated until the time has passed. Thereafter, when the power-off setting time has passed the current time (S5 is YES), information on the latest printing time and power-on time is acquired (S6).

As described above, the latest print time and power-on time information are also stored in the nonvolatile memory 9, and the setting processing unit 5 acquires the information from the nonvolatile memory 9.
Next, a power-off confirmation command packet is generated based on the information (S7). FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a packet format of the power-off confirmation command. This packet format includes information on a broadcast address, a transmission source address, a power-off confirmation command, a power-off desired time, a power-off setting time, a power-on time, and the latest print time.

Next, the transmission / reception control unit 4 transmits the power-off confirmation command packet created by the setting processing unit 5 to another printing device 21 or the like via the network (S8). Then, it waits for reception of a power off acceptance command (S9).
Thereafter, if there is a response (S10 is YES), the processing described later is executed, but if there is no response (S10 is NO), the above transmission processing is repeated three times (S11), and the reception of the power-off acceptance command is awaited ( S8-S11).

  If the transmission process is repeated three times and no power-off acceptance command is received (YES in S11), the printing apparatus 1 shifts again to the set time acquisition process without issuing a power-off instruction (S2).

  On the other hand, the power-off confirmation command transmitted via the network is received by another printing apparatus (for example, the printing apparatus 21) connected to the network. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing on the other printing apparatus 21 side as described above. When a power-off confirmation command is received (step (hereinafter referred to as ST) 1), first, a power-off acceptance response command is not responded. It is determined whether the flag is on (ST2).

  Here, the first determination (ST2) is NO, and the printing apparatus 21 compares the power-off request time included in the received power-off confirmation command with the power-off setting time (ST3). Here, the power-off request time is a power-off desired time by the printing apparatus 1 described above, and if different (ST4 is YES), a power-off acceptance command is transmitted (ST10). In this case, for example, command processing is performed on the printing apparatus 1 side or the power is turned off by operating the power off key, and a power off acceptance command is transmitted.

  On the other hand, if they are the same (NO in ST4), information about the own power-off setting time is obtained from a non-illustrated nonvolatile memory in the printing apparatus 21 (ST5), and the power-off setting time included in the power-off confirmation command The own power-off setting time is compared (ST6). When the power-off setting time of the printer is earlier than the power-off setting time from the printing apparatus 1 (ST6 is YES), the processing in the printing apparatus 21 is ended. In this case, since the power-off setting process is scheduled to be performed at an earlier time in the self-printing apparatus (for example, the printing apparatus 21), the power-off acceptance response cannot be performed, and the process ends.

  On the other hand, if the own power-off setting time is not earlier than the power-off setting time from the printing apparatus 1 (NO in ST6), it is further confirmed whether it is the same as the own power-off setting time (ST7). If not (NO in ST7), a power-off acceptance command is transmitted (ST10). As described above, the power-off acceptance command is a format including a transmission destination address, and is transmitted to the printing apparatus 1 via the network.

  In the above determination (ST7), if the power-off setting time of the self and the power-off setting time included in the power-off confirmation command are the same (ST7 is YES), the latest printing time or power of the printing device 21 is further determined. The on time is acquired (ST8), and the latest print time or the power on time included in the power off confirmation command is compared (ST9).

  Specifically, first, the latest print times are compared. For example, if the latest print time is later (YES in ST9), a power off acceptance command is transmitted (ST10). On the other hand, when the latest print time of the self is early (NO in ST9), the process in the printing apparatus 21 is terminated.

  If the latest printing time is the same and if the power-on time is later (YES in ST9), a power-off acceptance command is transmitted (ST10). On the other hand, if the self power-on time is early (NO in ST9), the processing in the printing apparatus 21 is terminated.

The power-off acceptance command transmitted through the network by the above processing is received by the transmission / reception control unit 4 of the printing apparatus 1 (S1 is YES), and the printing apparatus 1 sets a flag that does not make a power-off acceptance response thereafter (S12). . Then, it is determined whether it is in an idle state (S13). When the idle state is completed, network communication is stopped (S14).
Thereafter, the printing apparatus 1 issues a power-off instruction, and the transmission / reception control unit 4 controls the power-off (S15).

  By processing as described above, when a power-off acceptance command is transmitted, the printing apparatus that has transmitted the power-off acceptance command is connected to the network without turning off the power, and the power of other printing apparatuses is Even if it is turned off, it is possible to respond to a print instruction from a personal computer (PC) on the network. Therefore, for example, when printing processing is urgently required, the requested print output can be performed quickly.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printing apparatus 1a ... Interface controller part 1b ... Print engine part 2 ... Image memory 3 ... Drawing part 4 ... Transmission / reception control part 5 ... Setting process part 6 ... Time management Unit 7... Panel control unit 8... Print control unit 9... Nonvolatile memory 10 .. Operation panel 11 .. Power off function 12 .. Power saving management / determination unit 21.

Claims (6)

In a printing system in which a first printing device and a second printing device are connected via a network,
The first printing apparatus includes:
Transmitting means for transmitting a power-off confirmation request including address information of the first printing device and information of a power-off setting time to the second printing device;
Power off processing means for turning off the power of the apparatus based on reception of a power off acceptance response from the second printing apparatus,
The second printing apparatus includes:
When the power-off confirmation request is input, the power-off setting time is compared with its own power-off setting time, and when its own power-off setting time is late, the power-off acceptance response to the first printing apparatus Having control means for transmitting
A printing system characterized by that.   The power-off confirmation request for the first printing device further includes information on the latest printing time, and the second printing device has its own power-off setting time and the power-off setting time of the first printing device. Are the same, the latest print time of the self is compared with the latest print time transmitted from the first printing device, and if the latest print time of the self is later, the first printing device The printing system according to claim 1, wherein a power-off acceptance response is transmitted.   The power-off confirmation request for the first printing device further includes information on the power-on time, and the second printing device has the same latest printing time as that of the first printing device. If the self power-on time is later, the power-off time of the first printing apparatus is compared with the power-on time transmitted from the first printing apparatus. The printing system according to claim 2, wherein an acceptance response is transmitted. In a printing system in which first to nth printing apparatuses are connected via a network,
The first printing apparatus includes:
Transmitting means for transmitting a power-off confirmation request including address information of the first printing device and information of a power-off setting time to the second to n-th printing devices;
Power off processing means for turning off the power of the apparatus based on reception of a power off acceptance response from the second to nth printing apparatuses,
The second to n-th printing devices are:
When the power-off confirmation request is input, the power-off setting time is compared with its own power-off setting time, and when its own power-off setting time is late, the power-off acceptance response to the first printing apparatus Having control means for transmitting
A printing system characterized by that.   The power-off confirmation request of the first printing apparatus further includes information on the latest printing time, and the second to n-th printing apparatuses have their own power-off setting time and the power of the first printing apparatus. When the OFF setting time is the same, the latest printing time of the self is compared with the latest printing time transmitted from the first printing apparatus, and when the latest printing time of the self is later, the first printing apparatus The printing system according to claim 4, wherein the power-off acceptance response is transmitted to the printing system.   The power-off confirmation request for the first printing device further includes information on the power-on time, and the second to n-th printing devices have their latest printing time and the latest printing of the first printing device. When the times are the same, the power-on time of the self is compared with the power-on time transmitted from the first printing apparatus, and when the power-on time of the self is later, the first printing apparatus is The printing system according to claim 5, wherein the power-off acceptance response is transmitted.

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