JPH11170666A - Network printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network printer operable depending on the working conditions thereof. SOLUTION: A print waiting state is set (S1) by turning one network printer on. If print is not requested (S2) and the number of printers being set in print waiting state is larger than a predetermined number (S8), the printer is turned off (S9) until the number decreases to the predetermined number. If print is not requested for a predetermined time (S10), the printers are turned off (S11) except one. If print is requested (S2) and only one printer is turned off (S3), a predetermined number of printers are turned on (S7). If a plurality of printers are turned on (S3) and the number of printers being set in print waiting state is smaller than a predetermined number (S4), the printer is turned off (S5) until the number decreases to the predetermined number and the name of an available printer is sent back to the computer requesting print (S6).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for a network, and more particularly, to a method for saving energy of a printer connected to a network, and more particularly to a method for saving energy of a printer applicable to network system management. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a network in which a plurality of computers and a printer are connected, a technique for selecting an optimum network printer is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-5-274.
No. 098 is disclosed. In this publication, in a local area network in which a plurality of computers and a printer are connected, by automatically selecting an optimum printer for output data, the operation efficiency of the network is improved. A color printer and a laser printer are connected to each other via a bus to form a local area network, and a computer sends a presentation signal containing print information (black and white / color, character / graphic, definition, paper size). Sent to each printer,
When these presentation signals are received, it is determined whether or not the present operation status or capability can cope with the presentation signals, and a response signal is transmitted to the computer. Is selected to transmit the print data.

[0003]

However, in the above-described network system, no consideration has been given to energy saving of the network printer device, and the following problems have been encountered. When all printers connected to the network are not in printing but in print standby,
N, which was an inefficient way to save energy. Even when the printer connected to the network was not used for a long time, there were multiple printers waiting for printing, resulting in inefficient use of energy saving. When the number of printers connected to the network and waiting for printing decreases, if there are print requests from multiple personal computers, the probability of waiting for printing due to busy printing increases, resulting in inefficient use of printers. Had become.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object to provide a network printer which can be operated in accordance with the status of use of a printer.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a plurality of network printers shared and used by a plurality of personal computers via a network, the plurality of network printers which are powered on and are in a print standby state. When the number of printers exceeds a predetermined number, the power of the excess number of network printers is turned off, so that the printer is not turned on more than necessary. It was done.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a plurality of network printers shared and used by a plurality of personal computers via a network, the plurality of network printers are used after a predetermined time. When not performed, the power supply of the network printers other than the one printer waiting for printing is set so that one of the plurality of printers for network that is powered on and waiting for printing is one. Is turned off, so that it is not necessary to turn on the printer more than necessary.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a plurality of network printer apparatuses shared and used by a plurality of personal computers via a network, when a print request is issued from the personal computer, the power supply is turned on. When the number of network printer devices in standby is less than a predetermined number, the power supply of the network printer device is turned off so as to be the predetermined number. The feature is that printout with high operation efficiency can be performed with a short print waiting time.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an example of a network to which a network printer according to the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a network, 2 denotes a network printer, and 3 denotes a personal printer. The computer 4 is a printer management personal computer.

The example shown in FIG. 1 allows a plurality of personal computers 3 to share a plurality of network printers (printer groups) 2 via a network 1. ON / OFF of the remote power supply so that the personal computer 4 can turn on / off the power supply via the network 1.
Has F function. In addition, the personal computer 3
Is assigned to printer 2 for print data,
Further, it can be used for printer management for controlling ON / OFF of a remote power supply of a printer group.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining an embodiment of the network printer according to the present invention. The operation of the invention described in claims 1 to 3 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This operation is described as an operation of the personal computer 4 for printer management.

First, the power of one network printer 2 is turned on and the printer is on standby for printing (S1).
Then, the process waits until there is a print request from the personal computer 3 to the network printer 2 (S2). If there is no print request, it is determined whether the number of network printers 2 waiting for printing at a certain interval is larger than a certain number. Investigation (S8), if larger, the power of the network printer 2 is turned off until the number becomes a certain number (S9).

According to the first aspect, as described above, it is not necessary to turn on the power of the printer more than necessary, so that it is possible to use the printer with energy saving efficiency. Moreover, the usability is not so bad.

Further, it is checked whether there is a print request to the network printer 2 for a predetermined time (S1).
0) When there is no printing for a certain period of time, one network
The power of the other network printer 2 is turned off while leaving the printer 2 (S11).

According to the second aspect, as described above, it is not necessary to turn on the power of the printer more than necessary, so that it is possible to use the printer with good energy saving efficiency. Moreover, the usability is not particularly changed.

If there is a print request from the personal computer 3 to the network printer 2 (S2), 1
It is checked whether the power of only one network printer 2 is ON (S3). If only one printer is ON, the power of a certain number of network printers 2 is turned ON in preparation for a subsequent print request. After that (S7), a process of returning the name of the network printer 2 that can print to the personal computer 3 that issued the print request is performed (S7).
6).

When the power of the plurality of network printers 2 is ON, it is further checked whether or not the number of printers waiting for printing is smaller than a predetermined number (S4). Power on 2
After N (S5), a process of returning the name of the network printer 2 that can print to the personal computer 3 that has issued the print request is performed (S6).

According to the third aspect of the present invention, as described above, a certain number of printers can be put on standby for printing with a considerable probability, so that a print output time can be reduced and print efficiency can be improved. In addition, energy efficient use is possible.

[0018]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a plurality of network printer devices shared and used by a plurality of personal computers via a network, the number of the network printer devices which are powered on and are in a print standby state. When the number exceeds a predetermined number, the power of the excess number of network printers is turned off.
Since it is set to F, the power of the printer is not turned on more than necessary, and the energy-saving and efficient use can be performed. Moreover, the usability is not so bad.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plurality of network printers shared and used by a plurality of personal computers via a network, wherein the plurality of network printers are used after a predetermined time. When not performed, the power supply of the network printers other than the one printer waiting for printing is set so that one of the plurality of printers for network that is powered on and waiting for printing is one. Is turned off, so that the power of the printer is not turned on more than necessary, and energy-efficient use can be achieved. Moreover, the usability is not particularly changed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a plurality of network printer devices shared and used by a plurality of personal computers via a network, when a print request is issued from the personal computer, the power supply is turned on. When the number of network printer devices in standby is less than a predetermined number, the power of the network printer device is turned off so as to be the predetermined number. A certain number of printers can be put on standby for printing with a high probability,
Printout with good use efficiency is possible. In addition, energy efficient use is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a network to which a network printer according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a network printer according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Network, 2: Network printer, 3:
Personal computer, 4 ... Personal computer for printer management.

Claims (3)

[Claims] In a plurality of network printer devices shared and used by a plurality of personal computers via a network, the number of the network printer devices that are powered on and are waiting for printing has a predetermined number. When the number of network printers exceeds the limit, the power of the excess number of network printers is turned off. 2. A plurality of network printers shared and used by a plurality of personal computers via a network, wherein when the plurality of network printers are not used for a predetermined time, the plurality of network printers are used. Of the network printers, the power of the network printers other than the one printer waiting for printing is turned off so that the number of printers that are powered on and waiting for printing is one.
A printer device for a network, wherein the printer device is an FF. 3. A plurality of network printers shared and used by a plurality of personal computers via a network, wherein when a print request is issued from the personal computer, the network is turned on and is in a print standby state. The number of printer devices for
When the number is less than the predetermined number, the network printer is turned on so that the power is turned off so that the predetermined number is reached.