JPH11288333A - Image processor, image forming device and server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly process a job by efficiently controlling OFF of a power source. SOLUTION: Based on job managing information of a job managing part 3, a power source control condition judging part 5 on the side of a power source control requesting device sends a power source control permission request data to other device when a power source off request is received. When a job to use the function of the power source control requesting device is executed, a power source control request destination device returns power source control delay request data to the power source control requesting device, and when no job is executed, power source control permission data are returned. When the power source control permission data are received, the power source control condition judging part 5 on the side of the power source control requesting device reports a power source control operating instruction to a power source control instructing part 7 and executes OFF of the power source.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of sharing the function of its own apparatus as the function of another apparatus on a network, an image forming apparatus which outputs data via a server apparatus, and the server apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the increase in speed and capacity of networks, functions provided in each of functional modules (scanners, copiers, personal computers, etc .; hereinafter, collectively referred to as image processing apparatuses) connected to the networks have been developed. 2. Description of the Related Art An image processing system that allows functions distributed on a network to be used as another functional module (multifunction peripheral) by making it available from another functional module has become widespread. For example, a function of transmitting an image read from a scanner connected to a network to a remote copying machine and printing (network copy) is realized.

In the above-described image processing system, since the image processing system itself behaves as one multifunction device, attention must be paid to power control of the functional modules constituting the multifunction device. Specifically, when an image processing apparatus (first functional module) is to be turned off, another image processing apparatus (second functional module) is to be turned off. You may be trying to take advantage of features provided by. If the power of the image processing apparatus is turned off, there is a problem that a job to be executed is retained in the image processing apparatus (second function module).

[0004] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-90299 (hereinafter referred to as the first publication) discloses an image processing system including a plurality of devices connected by communication means. There is disclosed a technique for controlling so that when the power supply is turned off, other devices connected thereto are also turned off.

In recent years, a network printer system has been constructed in which a printer server receives a print request from another device on a network, issues a print request to a target printer in accordance with the request, and performs printing. . In such a system, when the user tries to turn off the printer, the printer is a printer that is about to receive a print request from the print server, or the printer has already finished printing and will receive a print request. It is difficult to determine if there is no printer. In view of this, a technique for intermittently turning off the power supply from a higher-level device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-195801 (hereinafter referred to as a second publication).

[0006]

However, according to the prior art described in the above-mentioned first publication, both the device whose power switch is turned off and the device which is turned off in conjunction with the device are turned off. Status (operation status: job processing status, etc.)
Is not taken into account, all devices are turned off and other devices are turned off, even though the device whose power switch is turned off may be used for a job being processed by another device. Jobs being processed by the device cannot be continued. Therefore,
It is conceivable to adopt a configuration in which the power of a specific device (for example, a device during job processing) is not turned off. However,
In this case, on the contrary, there is a first problem that it takes time until the power of the entire system is turned off, and it is difficult to determine the timing of the power off.

Further, in the prior art described in the above-mentioned second publication, only the power-off of the printer linked to the host device is considered, and the manual power-off of the printer alone by the user is not considered. Further, in addition to the necessity of a power-off control device, each printer also needs a device for power-off, and the second problem is that the cost is increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image processing apparatus capable of processing a job smoothly by efficiently performing power-off control. It is an object to provide an image forming apparatus and a server apparatus which do not require a complicated apparatus by clearly showing to the user whether or not it is acceptable.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned first problem, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an input means for inputting an instruction for power supply control, and an instruction for power control by the input means are provided. When input, an inquiry means for inquiring whether or not the power control of the own apparatus may be performed with respect to another apparatus connected on the network, and a power control of the own apparatus in response to the inquiry by the inquiry means. And a control means for executing power control when a response is received indicating that the execution may be performed.

According to the present invention, when a power-off instruction is input as power control by the input means, the power control of the own apparatus is executed for the other apparatus connected on the network by the inquiry means. It is inquired whether or not to perform power control, and if there is a response indicating that power control of the own device may be performed, the control unit executes power off. Therefore, when sharing the functions of a plurality of devices connected to a network, even if one device used in a job is powered off, it is desirable to minimize the job continuation in other devices. And the job can be processed smoothly.

In order to solve the above-mentioned second problem, according to the invention described in claim 4, a power supply of its own device is provided to a server device which receives an output request from another device connected on a network. Inquiry means for inquiring whether or not to execute control, and display means for displaying information related to power control of the own device based on information obtained by inquiring the server device by the inquiry means. It is characterized by.

According to the present invention, the inquiry means inquires of the server device, which receives an output request from another device connected on the network, whether or not the power control of the own device can be executed, Information on power control of the own device is displayed based on the response information from the server device. Therefore, the user can determine whether or not to turn off the power by looking at the displayed contents.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, first to third embodiments of the present invention will be described.

A. First Embodiment 1. First Embodiment Configuration of embodiment 1.1. Functional Configuration FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, functions of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention are roughly classified into a job control unit 1 and a power supply control unit 2. The job control unit 1 includes a job management unit 3 and a job priority change unit 4. Further, the power control unit 2 includes a power control condition determination unit 5 and a data transmission / reception unit 6. Other functions include a power control instruction unit 7 and a communication unit 8.

The job management unit 3 manages jobs being processed or waiting for processing, and a job priority change unit 4
Priority control information d2 is transmitted and received to perform job priority control and the like. The job priority change unit 4 changes the priority of the job in the processing waiting state based on the priority control information d2 from the job management unit 3, and notifies the job management unit 3 of the change result. In particular, the job management unit 3 sends a power control request to the power control condition determination unit 5 described below, which has received the power control request.
The job management information d1 is sent. The job management information is information on jobs being executed and waiting for execution, which are managed by the job management unit 3. More specifically, the job priorities and the functions required to process the jobs Etc. are included. The functions include the functions of the device required for processing the job, as well as the functions of other devices on the network.

For example, in the case of a job in which an image input from an input device on a network is output by another output device, the output function of the output device is registered in the job management information of the input device. Therefore, the input function of the input device is registered in the job management information on the output side. Therefore, by referring to the job management information, it is possible to recognize which other device uses the function of the own device or which other device is going to be used.

When receiving the power control instruction data from the power control instruction unit 7, the power control condition determination unit 5 determines whether or not to permit the specified power control based on a predetermined criterion (described later). The communication unit 8 instructs the communication unit 8 to transmit power control related data (power control permission request data, power control delay request data, power control permission data) as necessary. Further, it instructs the power control instruction unit 7 to execute power control based on the power control related data d3 (power control permission data) from the communication unit 8.

The data transmission / reception section 6 transmits the power control related data d3 from the power control condition determination section 5 to another device via the communication section 8 and receives data received from the other apparatus via the communication section 8. To the power control condition determination unit 5 as power control related data d3.

The power control instruction unit 7 notifies the power control instruction from the user to the power control condition determining unit 5 as power control instruction data (power control request) d4. The power off control is performed based on the data (power control execution instruction) d4. The communication unit 8 transmits and receives data to and from a public line or a network.

1.2. Hardware Configuration FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus. In FIG. 1, a communication unit I / F 10 transmits and receives data (bitmap data, print data, and the like) to and from another device via a public line or a network.
The HDI / F 11 controls writing and reading of the data to and from the hard disk 12. External device I / F
The 13 transmits and receives data to and from the external device 14.

The CPU 15 controls the operation of the entire apparatus in accordance with a predetermined program. The ROM 16 stores the above C
The program executed by the PU 15 and various parameters are stored. Also, the RAM 17 stores the CPU 1
Reference numeral 5 is used as a working area and a register for temporarily holding data when executing a program. The printing unit I / F 18 sends data supplied from the CPU 15 to the printing unit 19. The printing unit 19 includes a printing unit I / F 18
Prints the data supplied from the printer on paper.

The job management unit 3, the job priority change unit 4, the power control condition determination unit 5, the data transmission / reception unit 6, the power control instruction unit 7, and the communication unit 8 all include the CPU 1
5 is realized by a program in the ROM 16 operated by the CPU 5. The communication unit 8 corresponds to the communication unit I / F10.

2. Next, an operation of the above-described embodiment will be described. Here, FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a network configuration to which the present invention is applied. The network 24 includes the printer 2
5, a computer 26, a copying machine 27, and a scanner 28 are connected. In the following, taking the copying machine 27 and the scanner 28 as an example, in the case where the copying machine 27 uses the scanner 28 as an image input device (function), a case where a power-off request occurs on the copying machine 27 side will be described. The operation of each of the scanners 28 will be described.

2.1. Operation in Power Control Request Source Device First, a power control request source device (the copying machine 2 in the present embodiment)
The operation in 7) will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the power control instruction unit 7 detects a power off request from the user, the power control instruction unit 7
A power-off request is transmitted to the power control condition determining unit 5. Upon receiving the power-off request in step Sa1, the power control condition determination unit 5 firstly stores data for inhibiting acceptance of a new job in step Sa2.
And the job management information is obtained from the job management unit 3 in step Sa3. Here, the job management information is
As described above, the information on the job being executed and waiting for execution managed by the job management unit 3 includes, specifically, the priority of the job, the function required for processing the job, and the like. included.

Next, in step Sa4, it is determined from the acquired job management information whether there is a job currently being processed. If there is a job being processed, step Sa5 is performed.
Then, the job under processing is processed, the process waits for the end of the job, and after the process, the process proceeds to step Sa6. On the other hand, if there is no job being processed, the process directly proceeds to step Sa6. In step Sa6, power control permission request data is sent to the other device registered in the job management information.

The device that has received the power control permission request data, that is, the power control request destination device (scanner 28)
When a job using the function of the power control request source device (copier 27) is being executed, if the power is turned off, the job being processed will stay.
The power control delay request data is returned. Meanwhile, the copying machine 27
When the job using the function is not executed, the power control permission data is returned. The details of the operation of the power control request destination device, in this embodiment, the scanner 28 will be described later.

After transmitting the above-described power control permission request data, the power control condition determination unit 5 determines in step Sa7 whether power control permission data has been received from the registered device. If the power control permission data is not received, it is determined in step Sa8 whether or not power control delay request data has been received from the registered device. Further, if neither the power control permission data nor the power control delay request data is received, step S
At a9, it is determined whether or not the specified time has elapsed. If it is within the specified time, the process returns to step Sa7 and repeats the above determination processing.

When the power control delay request data is received from the registered device, the process returns from step Sa8 to step Sa7 to repeat the above-described determination processing until the power control permission data from the device is received. Wait for the execution of the power control operation. On the other hand, when the power control permission data is received, the process proceeds from step Sa7 to step Sa10, where the power control operation instruction is transmitted to the power control instruction unit 7.
Notify. Thereby, the power control instruction unit 7 actually executes the power control operation, that is, the power off.

If neither the power control permission data nor the power control delay request data is received within the prescribed time, the process proceeds to step Sa10 without waiting for the power control permission data to be received, and the power control operation instruction is issued. Is notified to the power control instruction unit 7, and the power control instruction unit 7 turns off the power.

2.2. Operation in Power Control Request Destination Device Next, the power control request destination device (in this embodiment, the scanner 2
The operation in 8) will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When receiving the power control related data (power control permission request data) via the communication unit 8 in step Sb1, the power control condition determination unit 5 of the power control request receiving apparatus receives the job management data from the job management unit 3 in step Sb2. Get information. Next, the power control condition determination unit 5 determines in step S
In step b3, it is determined from the acquired job management information whether or not a job related to the transmission source device (copier 27) of the power control permission request data exists in the standby job, and if the target job does not exist. Since there is no problem even if the power of the power control request source device (copier 27) is turned off, the process proceeds to step Sb10 to transmit power control permission data.

On the other hand, if there is a target job, in step Sb4, a power control delay request is transmitted to the power control request source device (copier 27) via the data transmitting / receiving unit 6 and the communication unit 8. Send data. Further, in step Sb5, job management information for inhibiting new acceptance of a job related to the power control request source device (copier 27), in other words, a job using the function of the power control request source device (copier 27) To the job management unit 3. Then, in step Sb6, job management information for setting the priority of the job related to the power control request source device (copier 27) higher than the other jobs is sent to the job management unit 3.

When the job management unit 3 receives the job management information, in step Sb7, the job priority change unit 4
, And the job priority changing unit 4 changes the priority of the target job. In step Sb8, the job management unit 3 processes the job based on the changed job priority. Then, in step Sb9, it is determined whether or not a job related to the power control request source device (copier 27) exists in the waiting job. If there is still a job, the process returns to step Sb6. The job priority is changed as described above, and the target job is preferentially processed in step Sb8. This operation is repeated until all the jobs related to the power control request source device (copier 27) are completed.

Then, the power control request source device (copier 2
When all the jobs related to 7) are completed, step S
Proceeding to b10, the job management unit 3 sends the job management information to the power control condition determination unit 5, and the power control condition determination unit 5 refers to the job management information to make the power control request source device (copier). 27), the data transmitting / receiving unit 6 and the communication unit 8
Via the power control permission data (power control related data)
Is transmitted to the power control request source device (copier 27).

3. Effects of the Embodiments As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when sharing functions of a plurality of devices connected to a network, at least one device used in a job is powered off. Even in this case, the inquiry unit inquires of another device connected on the network whether or not the power control of the own device may be performed, and may execute the power control of the own device. When a response is received, the power is turned off by the control means, so that it is possible to avoid the job continuation in other devices as little as possible and to obtain the advantage that the job can be processed smoothly. Can be

B. Second embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is an image forming apparatus (printer) according to a second embodiment.
1 shows a configuration of a network system including the above. This network system includes a plurality of clients C1, C
, A printer server PS, and a plurality of printers P1, P2,..., And these devices are interconnected via a LAN transmission path. In the following description, an arbitrary client is described as “client C”, and an arbitrary printer is described as “printer P” (in the case of a third embodiment described later) Is the same).

The client C is a terminal for giving a print instruction to the printer P, and includes a computer such as a personal computer and a workstation, and peripheral devices (scanners and the like). Digital data such as texts, line drawings, and images (including images captured from peripheral devices such as the scanner) held by the client C are output from the printer P via the printer server PS.

The printer server PS includes a main controller 31 and
A communication control unit 32 and a storage unit 33 for storing a print request information table 33a are provided.
Are joined by

The main control unit 31 includes a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM.
To give commands to each component and to control the whole apparatus (main control units 41, 51, and 6 described later).
1 is the same).

The communication control unit 32 controls the exchange of signals and data with other devices via a LAN transmission path, and includes a LAN interface driver and a control unit corresponding to various communication protocols (described later). Communication control unit 4
3, 52 and 63).

The storage unit 33 stores a print request information table 33a in which print requests from each client are collected. FIG. 11 shows an example of the print request information table.
(A). As described in the first row of this table, the jobs are spooled in Printer 1 in the order of job 1, job 3, and job 4. Similarly, Job 2 is spooled in Printer 2 and
3 shows that the job is not spooled. The print command sent from the client C is temporarily registered in the job, and the job is supplied to the printer P to start printing.

The printer P comprises a main control section 41, an image output section 42, a communication control section 43, a job management section 44, a job inquiry section 45, and a power-off permission display section 46. The components are connected by a bus 40.

The configurations of the main control section 41 and the communication control section 43 are as described above. The image output unit 42 is a unit for printing data received via the communication control unit 43, and generally uses a semiconductor laser, but is not limited to this. Light emitting diodes are arranged in an array. There are printers using so-called LED heads and liquid crystal arranged, and printers that perform printing by various methods such as an ink jet method, a dot impact method, a thermal method, and a sublimation transfer method (the same applies to an image output unit 62 described later). Main control unit 41, image output unit 42, communication control unit 43
In addition to the basic components such as described above, the printer P has the following components in order to execute job management and control its own power supply.

The job management unit 44 includes a print server PS
Print request is received as a job, and job registration, management, and retrieval are performed. The job inquiry unit 45 performs a process of inquiring the printer server PS via the communication control unit 43 about whether or not there is a print request from the client C to its own printer.

The power-off permission display section 36 is constituted by a display section such as an LED or a liquid crystal panel.
A message such as "power off OK", "power off NG", and "power off as soon as printing is completed" is displayed to the user to indicate whether or not the printer P can be powered off.

2. Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. FIG.
6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a power-off permission display section 46 performs a display related to power-off in the printer P.

First, in step Sc1, the job management unit 4
Then, it is determined whether a job is registered in No.4. If no job has been registered in this step, step Sc
The process proceeds to step S6, and if the job has been registered, the process proceeds to step S
The process proceeds to c2.

In step Sc2, a display is displayed on the power-off permission display section 36 to prohibit power-off. In the next step Sc3, the job registered in the job management unit 44 is extracted. In step Sc4, the image output unit 42 prints the data specified by the job according to the content of the extracted job. When this printing is completed,
In step Sc5, it is determined whether or not all the print target data recorded in the extracted job has been output. If there is any unprinted data in this process, the process returns to step Sc4 again to continue the output. Then, when the output of all data is completed, the control is shifted to step Sc1 again to prepare for printing of the next job.

If it is determined in step Sc1 that there is no job in the job management unit 44, the process proceeds to step Sc6, where the job inquiry unit 45 sends the print request to the printer server PS to be printed by its own printer. A signal is sent to inquire whether or not the job exists. In response, the printer server PS sends the print request information table 33a stored in the storage unit 43
And confirms whether or not a job to be sent to the printer P is registered, and notifies the printer P of the result.

According to the notification from the printer server PS, if there is an unsent print request to be printed by its own printer, the process returns to step Sc1 and shifts to an operation for preparing for printing the next job. If not, the process proceeds to step Sc8. In this step Sc8,
The power-off permitting device display unit 36 displays that the power may be turned off, and the process returns to step Sc1.

As described above, if there is a job remaining in the job management unit 44 of the printer itself, a message indicating that power-off is prohibited is displayed, and there is no job remaining in the job management unit 44 and printing is not performed. When an inquiry is made to the printer server PS that holds the request information table 43a and a notification that there is no client C that has issued an output request directed to its own printer is received, a message that the power-off is permitted is displayed. Done. Therefore, the user can turn off the power based on the display contents of the power-off permission display section 46 without delaying the output process from the client C.

C. Third embodiment 1. Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 8 illustrates an image forming apparatus (printer) according to a third embodiment.
1 shows a configuration of a network system including the above. This network system includes a plurality of clients C1, C2, C3,... Similar to the configuration shown in FIG.
A printer server PS and a plurality of printers P1, P2,.
. And these devices are interconnected via a LAN transmission line. Therefore, the description will focus on the differences from the configuration of the second embodiment.

The functional configuration of the client C is the same as that of the second embodiment. The printer server PS includes a main control unit 51, a communication control unit 52, a print request information table 5
3a and a storage unit 53 for storing the printing device information table 53b, a print request determination unit 54, and a power-off information generation unit 55. These components are connected by a bus 50.

The print request information table 5 is stored in the storage unit 53.
3a (the same content as the above-described print request information table 33a is held), and a printing device information table 53b.
Is recorded. FIG. 11B shows the contents of the printing device information table 53b. In this table, regarding the printer P connected to the network, the printer name, the address on the network, the buffer capacity,
Print speed, color printer / monochrome printer type,
Information including the specifications of each printer such as the presence or absence of a sort function is stored. This printing device information table 53a
Is referred to when a print job is sent from the printer server PS and when power-off information of the printer P is generated.

The print request discriminating section 54 checks signals described in the print request information table 53a and the printing apparatus information table 53b, and outputs a signal for giving a print command to each job to the printers P1, P2,. It is determined which of the printers to send to.

The power-off information generation section 55 refers to the print request status from the client C recorded in the print request information table 53a and the printer information recorded in the printing device information table 53b, and The power-off information includes information for permitting power-off or information for requesting printing of the remaining jobs.

Next, the printer P includes a main control section 61, an image output section 62, a communication control section 63, and a job management section 64.
And a power-off information display section 65, and these components are connected by a bus 60. Main controller 61,
The functional configurations of the image output unit 62, the communication control unit 63, and the job management unit 64 are almost the same as those in the second embodiment.

However, in order to check the operation status of the printer P at any time on the printer server PS side, when printing for a job registered in the job management section 64 is completed, a signal to that effect is sent to the printer server PS. Is to be sent.

The power-off information display section 65 includes an LED
And a display device such as a liquid crystal panel, and displays information necessary for the user to determine whether to turn off the power of the printer P. This information includes not only the power-off permission but also the number of remaining jobs in the printer (recorded in the job management unit 64), the number of remaining jobs to be output by the printer via the printer server PS (the print request information table). 53a), and information such as the expected printing time for each job.

2. Operation of Embodiment 2.1. Operation of Printer Server FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation when the power supply disconnection information is generated in the printer server PS and transmitted to the printer P in the present embodiment. First, in step Sd1, the printer server PS
It is determined whether or not a signal to request printing has been received from. If the print request signal is received, step S
The process proceeds to d7, and if not received, proceeds to step Sd2.

In step Sd2, it is determined whether or not a signal indicating the end of printing has been received from the printer P. If this signal has been received, the process proceeds to step Sd3, and if not, the process returns to step Sd1 to return to step Sd1.
The following processing is performed.

In response to receiving a signal indicating that printing has been completed from the printer P, in step Sd3, the print command is referred to the print request information table 53a, and a print command is continuously transmitted based on the presence or absence of a job for the printer that transmitted this signal. It is determined whether there is a plan. In this process, if it is determined that there is a print request from the client C, step Sd
The process proceeds to steps Sd4, Sd5 and Sd6, and if it is determined that there is no print request, the process proceeds to steps Sd4 and Sd6.

In step Sd5, the print request job stored in the print request information table 53a is sent to the printer P. In step Sd6, the power-off information is generated by the power-off information generation unit 55 with reference to the contents stored in the print request information table 53a. The power-off information includes information that the power-off is permitted if there is no print request from the client C to the printer P.
When there is a print request to the printer P, information such as the number of print requests, the amount of data, and the scheduled printing time is included. Then, the power-off information is sent to the printer, and the process returns to step S1 in preparation for the next process.

In step Sd7, it is determined which printer should output the print request sent from the client C. That is, a process of determining the output destination printer specified by the client C side and assigning a job to the printer is performed. If no output destination is specified, a process of allocating a job to a printer having a small number of spooled jobs is performed with reference to the print request information table 53a.

In step Sd8, based on the print requests determined in step Sd7, the output destination printers are classified and stored as jobs in the print request information table 53a. In this case, the number of print request jobs has increased,
Update the power-off information of the corresponding printer and execute step S
Proceed to d6. In step Sd6, the power-off information is supplied from the printer server PS to the client C.

2.2. Operation Sequence for Displaying Power-Off Information Next, the operation for displaying the power-off information supplied in this way on the printer side will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step Se1, the job management unit 6
It is determined whether a job is registered in No. 4. If a job has not been registered in this process, the process proceeds to step Se2, and if a job exists, the process skips steps Se2 to Se5 and proceeds to step Se6.

In step Se2, the job to be printed next is taken out of the jobs registered in the job management section 64. Then, in step Se3, printing is performed by the image output unit 62 according to the content of the extracted job.

In step Se4, it is determined whether the output of the data indicated in the content of the extracted job has been completed. If all outputs have not been completed, the process returns to step Se3 to continue the output, and if all outputs have been completed, the process proceeds to step Se5.

In step Se5, a print end signal indicating that printing for a certain job has been completed is sent to the printer server PS. In step Se6, the printer P
The power-off information is updated on the printer server PS side based on the signal received from the printer server. In step Se7, the updated power-off information is transmitted to the printer side.
Then, based on this power-off information, an appropriate display related to the power control is displayed to the user (for example, “no remaining job, power-off OK”, “remaining job 2, power-off NG”, “all prints completed in 3 minutes” After that, a display such as "Power off OK" is made.

As described above, in the present embodiment,
Appropriate information for determining whether to turn off the power of the printer is displayed at any time, and based on this display, the user can turn off the power of the image forming apparatus. Then, the interruption of the power supply does not cause a print request job from the client to be delayed, thereby causing no trouble at the time of printing.

D. Modifications The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible as follows, for example. (1) In the first embodiment, the power control permission data is not transmitted until all the jobs related to the power control request source device are completed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the power supply control permission data may be transmitted after the job to be performed is forcibly stopped, the job transmission source (for example, the computer 26) is notified to that effect. (2) In the second and third embodiments, a network system in which a client, a printer server, and a printer are connected by a LAN has been introduced. However, a remote system can be used by using a network such as a WAN, a telephone network, and a mobile communication network. , A power-off permission is displayed to the printer at the same time, and information about power-off control can be displayed.

[0072]

When the functions of a plurality of devices connected to the network are shared, at least one of the devices used in the job is used.
Even if one of the devices is powered off, the inquiry means inquires of the other devices connected on the network whether the power control of the own device can be executed or not. When a response is received indicating that the control may be executed, the power is turned off by the control unit, so that the job cannot be continued in another device as little as possible, and the job is processed smoothly. be able to. Further, since the image forming apparatus is provided with a display unit for indicating whether or not the power can be turned off, the user can turn off the power while viewing the displayed content.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a network configuration to which the first embodiment is applied.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the power control request source device (copier 27).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the power control request destination device (scanner 28).

FIG. 6 is a network configuration diagram including an image forming apparatus (printer P) according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a power-off permission display operation of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a network configuration diagram including an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation when power-off information is generated on the printer server side and transmitted to the printer side in the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of displaying power-off information of a printer in the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows the contents of a table stored in a storage unit, where (a) shows the contents of a print request information table;
(B) shows the contents of the printing device information table.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 job control unit 2 power control unit 3 job management unit (judgment unit, processing unit) 4 job priority change unit (priority change unit) 5 power control condition judgment unit (inquiry unit, control unit,
Judgment means) 6 Data transmission / reception unit 7 Power supply control instruction unit (input means, control means) 8 Communication unit 30, 40, 50, 60 Bus 31, 41, 51, 61 Main control unit 32, 52 Image output unit 33, 42, 53, 62 Communication control unit 34, 54 Job management unit 35 Job inquiry unit 36 Power-off permission display unit 43, 63 Storage unit 55 Power-off information display unit 64 Print request determination unit 65 Power-off information generation unit C (C1, C2, C3) ...) Client P (P1, P2, ...) Printer PS Printer server

Claims (8)

[Claims] An input unit for inputting a power control instruction, and when the power control instruction is input by the input unit, the power control of the own device is executed for another device connected on the network. Inquiry means for inquiring whether or not to perform power control, and a control means for executing power control when there is a response to the inquiry by the inquiry means that power control of the own device may be performed. Characteristic image processing device. 2. A determination means for determining whether or not there is a job that uses a device to be power controlled, and the determination unit determines that the device has a job that uses the device to be power controlled. An image processing apparatus comprising: a processing unit that preferentially processes the job. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a priority changing unit that changes a priority of the job when the determining unit determines that the job has a job that uses the power supply control target apparatus. Item 3. The image processing device according to Item 2. 4. An inquiring means for inquiring a server device, which receives an output request from another device connected on a network, as to whether or not to execute power control of its own device, and An image forming apparatus comprising: a display unit configured to display information related to power control of the own apparatus based on information obtained by inquiring a server apparatus. 5. A receiving means for receiving information transmitted from a server device for receiving an output request from another device connected on a network, the information including an output request status for the own device from another device, and the receiving device And a display unit for displaying information relating to power control of the own apparatus based on the information received from the server apparatus by the information processing apparatus. 6. When a job is registered in the own device, a display to the effect that power-off is prohibited is displayed on the display unit. On the other hand, when a job is not registered in the own device, The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a unit configured to display information on power control of the apparatus on the display unit based on information from the server apparatus. 7. A means for receiving an output request from a client to an image forming apparatus connected to a network, a job registering means for registering the received output request as a job for each image forming apparatus at an output destination, A server for providing information on power control of the image forming apparatus to an image forming apparatus as an output destination in a timely manner based on the information registered by the job registering means. 8. When the job for the output destination image forming apparatus has not been registered by the job registration unit, information indicating that power can be turned off is supplied to the image forming apparatus, 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a unit that supplies information including the number of registered jobs to the image forming apparatus when a job for the image forming apparatus is registered by the job registering unit. Server device.