Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1223—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to use a particular technique
  • G06F3/1229—Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1202—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect
  • G06F3/1218—Reducing or saving of used resources, e.g. avoiding waste of consumables or improving usage of hardware resources
  • G06F3/1221—Reducing or saving of used resources, e.g. avoiding waste of consumables or improving usage of hardware resources with regard to power consumption
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/12—Digital output to print unit, e.g. line printer, chain printer
  • G06F3/1201—Dedicated interfaces to print systems
  • G06F3/1278—Dedicated interfaces to print systems specifically adapted to adopt a particular infrastructure
  • G06F3/1285—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
  • G06F3/1287—Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server via internet
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/00885—Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/00885—Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
  • H04N1/00888—Control thereof
  • H04N1/00896—Control thereof using a low-power mode, e.g. standby
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
  • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
  • H04N1/00204—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
  • H04N2201/0008—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus
  • H04N2201/0034—Details of the connection, e.g. connector, interface
  • H04N2201/0037—Topological details of the connection
  • H04N2201/0039—Connection via a network
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
  • H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
  • H04N2201/0094—Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02D—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE
  • Y02D10/00—Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that performs power-saving control, a control method for the image forming apparatus, and a storage medium storing a program.
• the communication control device determines whether or not the image forming apparatus is to revert to a non-power saving state, depending on whether or not the received packet satisfies the predetermined condition.
• An aspect of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned problems with the
• the present invention provides a technique that allows reversion from a power saving state to be appropriately controlled in the case of using a
• the present invention in its first aspect provides an image forming - A -
• an image forming apparatus comprising a main control unit that operates in at least a first power state or a second power state with lower power
• the image forming apparatus comprising: sleep control means for causing the main control unit to transition into the second power state and to notify the sub control unit of communication connection information that is updated in accordance with execution of communication via the network, so as to cause the sub control unit to hold the communication connection information;
• determination means for, upon reception of data from the information processing apparatus when the main control unit is in the second power state, determining, based on the received data, whether to cause the main control unit to revert to the first power state or to cause the sub control unit to make a response to the received data without the main control unit reverting to the first power state; response means for, when the determination means has determined that the sub control unit is to make a response to the received data without the main control unit reverting to the first power state, generating response information for the received data, transmitting the response information to the information processing apparatus, and updating the communication connection information held in the sub control unit; and reversion means for, when the
• determination means has determined to cause the main control unit to revert to the first power state
• the second aspect of the present invention provides a control method for an image forming
• control apparatus comprising a main control unit that operates in at least a first power state or a second power state with lower power consumption than the first power state, and a sub control unit that performs communication with an information processing apparatus via a network, the control method comprising: a sleep control step of causing the main control unit to transition into the second power state and to notify the sub control unit of communication connection information that is updated in accordance with execution of communication via the network, so as to cause the sub control unit to hold the communication connection information; a sleep control step of causing the main control unit to transition into the second power state and to notify the sub control unit of communication connection information that is updated in accordance with execution of communication via the network, so as to cause the sub control unit to hold the communication connection information; a sleep control step of causing the main control unit to transition into the second power state and to notify the sub control unit of communication connection information that is updated in accordance with execution of communication via the network, so as to cause the sub control unit to hold the communication connection information; a sleep control step of causing the main control unit to transition into the
• determination step of, upon reception of data from the information processing apparatus when the main control unit is in the second power state, determining, based on the received data, whether to cause the main control unit to revert to the first power state or to cause the sub control unit to make a response to the received data without the main control unit reverting to the first power state; a response step of, when it has been determined in the determination step that the sub control unit is to make a response to the received data without the main control .
• the third aspect of the present invention provides a storage medium storing a program a computer- readable storage medium storing a program to be
• a computer comprising a main control unit that operates in at least a first power state or a second power state with lower power consumption than the first power state, and a sub control unit that performs communication with an information processing apparatus via a network
• the program causing the computer to perform the steps of: causing the main control unit to transition into the second power state and to notify the sub control unit of communication connection information that is updated in accordance with execution of communication via the network, so as to cause the sub control unit to hold the communication connection information; upon reception of data from the information processing apparatus when the main control unit is in the second power state, determining, based on the received data, whether to cause the main control unit to revert to the first power state or to cause the sub control unit to make a response to the received data without the main control unit reverting to the first power state; when it has been determined in the determination step that the sub control unit is to make a response to the received data without the main control unit reverting to the first power state, generating response information for the received data, transmitting the response information to
• FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating the software configuration of the image forming
• FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a packet format used for communication in an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a TCP packet format used for communication that requires a connection .
• FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating data that at a minimum needs to be transferred between a main control unit and a sub control unit in the image
• FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating
• FIG. 8A and 8B are flowcharts illustrating processing performed by the sub control unit after the image forming apparatus according to the first
• embodiment has transitioned into the power saving state.
• FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an overview of a communication packet format used in a SMB/CIFS
• FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the most typical normal sequence performed between a client and a server.
• FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating
• FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a network system using an image forming apparatus 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• the image forming apparatus 101 such as a printer
• an information processing apparatus (PC) 102 such as a personal computer
• PC information processing apparatus
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment.
• the image forming apparatus 101 includes a main control unit 200 controlled by a Main CPU 201 and a sub control unit 210 controlled by a Sub CPU 211, and the main control unit 200 and the sub control unit 210 are connected via a PCI bus.
• the main control unit 200 controls a reading control unit 204 and a print control unit 205 and achieves image forming processing
• the sub control unit 210 controls such functions and a power saving control function.
• Programs for controlling such functions and a power saving control function are stored in a ROM 202 or an HDD 206, and those programs are loaded into a RAM 203 at the time of startup of the image forming apparatus 101 and executed by the Main CPU 201.
• the sub control unit 210
• a power control unit 220 controls power supply to each block in the image forming
• the apparatus 101 and in particular it is capable of reducing power consumption of the overall image forming apparatus 101 by stopping the power supply to the main control unit 200 and thereby causing the image forming apparatus to transition into the power saving state.
• FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating the software configuration of the image forming
• FIG. 3A showing the software configuration of the main control unit 200
• FIG. 3B showing the software configuration of the sub control unit 210. Note that constituent elements in these drawings indicate
• modules having different software functions, and those blocks are executed in parallel by their corresponding CPUs.
• a reversion/proxy -response information management unit 303 holds information indicating a condition for reversion from the power saving state to the non-power saving state and a condition for giving a proxy response while retaining the power saving state.
• a sleep control unit 302 acquires the condition
• connection management information (communication connection information) held by a connection information
• the sleep control unit 302 instructs the power control unit 220 to transition into the power saving state.
• a connection information monitor driver 306 monitors a communication packet received by the sub control unit 210 through a network transmission and reception unit 314, acquires connection management information described later, and stores the connection management information in the connection information management unit 305.
• the connection information management unit 305 receives connection information for each individual communication connection from the connection information monitor driver 306 and holds the connection information.
• An application protocol control unit 307 operates in the non-power saving state.
• the application protocol control unit 307 acquires data for each application through the normal control unit 301.
• the application protocol control unit 307 receives a notification of transition from the non-power saving state to the power saving state through the sleep control unit 302. This allows the application protocol control unit 307 to recognize that the image forming apparatus is to transition from the non-power saving state to the power saving state.
• the application protocol control unit 307 After the image forming apparatus has transitioned into the power saving state, the application protocol control unit 307 further sets a condition for reversion from the power saving state to the non-power saving state or a condition for giving a proxy response in the reversion/proxy response information management unit 303.
• a reversion/proxy response information holding unit 312 receives and holds reversion/proxy response condition information held by the reversion/proxy response information management unit 303 through the
• a connection information management unit 315 receives and holds the connection management information held by the connection
• a reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 analyzes a packet received from the network transmission and reception unit 314. Then, the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 determines whether to cause the image forming apparatus to revert to the non-power saving state or to give a proxy response in the power saving state or not to perform any processing, using the information held by the reversion/proxy response information holding unit 312 and the information held by the connection
• a packet received by the network transmission and reception unit 314 is passed as is through the communication unit 311 to the main control unit 200.
• a packet received by the network transmission and reception unit 314 is passed as is through the communication unit 311 to the main control unit 200.
• a packet received by the network transmission and reception unit 314 is passed as is through the communication unit 311 to the main control unit 200.
• transmission and reception unit 314 is passed to the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313.
• FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a packet format used for communication in the present embodiment .
• a communication packet includes an Ether header 401 and a subsequent IP header 402.
• An example of packets requiring a connection includes a TCP
• the TCP packet has a structure in which the Ether header 401 and the IP header 402 are followed by a TCP packet header.
• specifications of the TCP are defined by the RFC 793.
• FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a TCP packet format used for communication that requires a connection.
• a TCP header 501 is present in communication that requires a connection.
• Connection management is performed using information included in the TCP header 501.
• Connection management refers to control that is performed to ensure communication reliability, such as sequence control for communication packets transmitted and received during connection, retransmission control performed at the time of a packet loss, packet transmission rate control, and congestion avoidance control.
• a transmission source port number 502 is 2 bytes and indicates a port number on the transmission side of the communication packet.
• a destination port number 503 is 2 bytes and indicates a port number on the reception side of the communication packet. In the case of communication requiring a connection, the transmission source port number 502 and the destination port number 503 are fixed values unless the connection is closed or changed.
• a sequence number 504 is 4 bytes and indicates the position of data in the transmitted packet, and a value equal to the size of transmission data is added to the sequence number 504 every time data is transmitted.
• An acknowledgement number (Ack No) 505 is 4 bytes and indicates a sequence number of data to be subsequently received. Accordingly, when the sequence number 504 of a packet to be subsequently transmitted from the transmission side and the acknowledgement number 505 of a received packet are the same, it indicates that communication has been thus far
• a data offset 506 is 4 bits and indicates the starting position of a data part field in the TCP packet.
• a control flag 507 is 6 bits and indicates control information regarding the TCP packet. Flag types URG, ACK, PSH, RST, SYN, and FIN are set in the individual bits of the control flag 507,
• URG indicates that urgent data is included.
• ACK indicates that the value of the
• acknowledgement number 505 is valid.
• PSH indicates that received data needs to be passed to an upper-level application protocol.
• RST indicates that the
• SYN indicates a request to establish
• connection management is performed by controlling the control flag 507 for each communication sequence .
• a window size 508 is 2 bytes and indicates the size of data that can subsequently be received at a position starting from the data position indicated by the acknowledgement number 505.
• the transmission side cannot transmit an amount of data over the value of the window size 508.
• the value of the window size 508 will be changed dynamically for each communication sequence, depending on the state of a packet to be processed on the reception side, the size of a reception buffer prepared on the reception side, settings of a protocol stack on the reception side, and so on.
• a checksum 509 is 2 bytes and provides reliability of the header part and the data part in the TCP packet. The transmission side calculates the checksum 509 for each individual packet and adds a calculated result to the packet.
• the reception side is capable of checking whether or not packet corruption has occurred on a communication path by checking the checksum in the received packet.
• An urgent pointer (URG) 510 is 2 bytes and indicates a pointer to the position where data of urgency is to be stored. Operations to be performed upon receiving urgent data are determined by individual applications on the reception side. As seen from the individual contents in the TCP packet described above, a field having a value that is dynamically changed for each communication sequence is present in the case of performing communication requiring a connection.
• FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating data that at a minimum needs to be transferred between the main control unit 200 and the sub control unit 210 in the image forming apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment. Note that, in this drawing, 200 indicates the main control unit and 210 indicates the sub control unit .
• FIG. 6 shows a list of data that at a minimum needs to be carried over from the sub control unit 210 to the main control unit 200 when the image forming apparatus transitions into the non-power saving state from a situation where connection is retained in the non-power saving state.
• FIG. 6 also shows a list of data that at a minimum needs to be carried over from the sub control unit 210 to the main control unit 200 when the image forming apparatus transitions into the non-power saving state from a situation where
• FIG. 6 also indicates whether or not there is a possibility that data that at a minimum needs to be carried over may be changed during a communication sequence
• FIG. 6 further shows whether or not data held for each
• the main control unit 200 upon receiving a packet in the non-power saving state, acquires and holds transmission source and destination MAC addresses, transmission source and destination IP addresses, and application packet information from the received packet. Thereafter, when transitioning from the non-power saving state to the power saving state, the main
• control unit 200 carries over the acquired information to the sub control unit 210 and transitions into the power saving state. Meanwhile, upon receiving a packet in the power saving state, the sub control unit 210 checks the received packet based on the transmission source and destination MAC addresses, the transmission source and destination IP addresses, and packet pattern information transmitted from the main control unit 200. Based on a result of the check, the sub control unit
• the 210 determines whether to cause the image forming apparatus to revert from the power saving state to the non-power saving state or to generate a response packet and give a proxy response instead of the main control unit 200 or to ignore the received packet. As result of the determination, if it has been determined that a proxy response is to be given or the received packet is to be ignored, the sub control unit 210 continues to operate in the power saving state. On the other hand, if it has been determined that the image forming apparatus.
• the apparatus is to revert from the power saving state to the non-power saving state, the sub control unit 210 carries over the transmission source and destination MAC addresses, the transmission source and destination IP addresses, and the application packet information in the received packet to the main control unit 200, and thereafter the image forming apparatus transitions into the non-power saving state.
• the main control unit needs to acquire and manage at least connection management information shown in FIG. 6.
• the main control unit 200 When transition into the power saving state occurs while retaining a connection, the main control unit 200 carries over at least all connection management
• the sub control unit 210 checks the received packet based on the information carried over from the main control unit 200. Based on a result of the check, the sub control unit 210 determines whether to cause the image forming apparatus to revert from the power saving state to the non-power saving state or to generate a response packet and give a proxy response instead of the main control unit 200 or to ignore the received packet.
• the sub control unit 210 continues to operate in the power saving state. Or if it has been determined that the sub control unit 210 is to give a proxy response instead of the main control unit 200, the sub control unit 210 newly generates or updates data of FIG. 6 that is changed dynamically, with use of the received packet and the information passed from the main control unit 200. The sub control unit 210 generates a response packet with use of the data that is changed dynamically and the remaining fixed data and transmits the response packet to the transmission source. If it has been determined that the image forming apparatus is to revert from the power saving state to the non-power saving state, the sub control unit 210 acquires the connection management information and the application packet information shown in FIG. 6 from the received packet. The sub control unit 210 then carries over, among those pieces of information, at least all connection management information other than the window size and the checksum and the
• the main control unit 200 continues processing for a subsequent sequence while retaining the connection, with use of the connection management information carried over from the sub control unit 210. Note that the process of transition from the non-power saving state to the power saving state and the process of transition from the power saving state to the non-power saving state will be described later.
• FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating
• step S701 determines in step S701 whether or not the main control unit 200 is to transition into the power saving state.
• the determination of whether or not to transition into the power saving state is made depending on whether or not an instruction to transition into a sleep mode is issued manually by a user who uses the image forming apparatus 101. Alternatively, the determination may be made by the sleep control unit 302 monitoring and determining whether or not the image forming apparatus 101 has been left inactive for a certain period of time. If the main control unit has been determined not to transition into the power saving state in step S701, the sleep control unit 302 either makes a determination again after a certain period of time or is brought into a standby state until reception of an instruction to transition into a sleep mode from a user. If the main control unit has been determined to transition into the power saving state, then the procedure proceeds to step S702, in which the sleep control unit 302 checks
• step S703 the sleep control unit 302 acquires the connection
• connection information management unit 305 passes the connection
• step S705 in which the sleep control unit 302 deletes the connection
• connection information management unit 305 stops targeted connection communication that is being
• step S706 in which the communication unit 304 transmits the connection
• the communication unit 311 thereby passes the connection management information received from the communication unit 304 in the main control unit 200 to the connection information
• step S703 it is determined in step S703 whether or not checks of all connections have been ended, and if the checks of all connections have not yet been ended, the procedure proceeds to step S704 in which the processing as described above is performed, whereas if the checks of all connections have been ended, the procedure proceeds to step S707.
• step S707 the sleep control unit 302 in the main control unit 200 notifies the application protocol control unit 307 that transition into the power saving state is to be made.
• This notification of transition into the power saving state is provided by way of a notification to a call-back function prepared on the application protocol control unit 307 side, processing for transmitting a message from the sleep control unit 302 to the application protocol control unit 307, and so on.
• step S708 in which, upon receiving a notification of transition into the power saving state, the application protocol control unit 307 sets a condition for reversion to the non-power saving state after the image forming apparatus has transitioned into the power saving state or a condition for giving a proxy response in the reversion/proxy response
• step S709 in which the sleep control unit 302 acquires, for each application protocol, pattern packet information for power reversion or proxy
• the sleep control unit 302 passes the acquired pattern packet information to the
• the communication unit 304 transmits the pattern packet information to the communication unit 311 in the sub control unit 210 in step S710.
• the communication unit 311 thereby
• step S711 in which the sleep control unit 302 in the main control unit 200 instructs the power control unit 220 to transition into the power saving state. Accordingly, subsequent connection management and per-application communication management are shifted from the main control unit 200 to the sub control unit 210, and thereby the transition into the power saving state is achieved.
• FIG. 8A and 8B are flowcharts illustrating processing performed by the sub control unit 210 after the image forming apparatus 101 according to the first embodiment has transitioned into the power saving state. This processing is performed under control of the Sub CPU 211 in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 212.
• step S801 determines in step S801 whether or not a packet has been received from another party via the network 103. When a packet has been received, the procedure proceeds to step S802, in which the network transmission and reception unit 314 determines whether or not the communication is accompanied with connection, based on the transmission source and destination MAC addresses, the transmission source and destination IP addresses, and the transmission source and destination port numbers in the received packet. If the
• step S810 the procedure proceeds to step S810 to perform processing. On the other hand, if the
• step S803 the network transmission and reception unit 314 calculates a checksum and determines whether or not packet corruption has occurred on a
• step S804 the network transmission and reception unit 314 checks the control flag in the packet received in step S801. If the control flag indicates any type other than SYN, the procedure proceeds to step S805.
• step S805 the network transmission and reception unit 314 acquires the sequence number 504 and the acknowledgement number 505 (FIG. 5) in the received packet.
• transmission and reception unit 314 also acquires the sequence number 504 and the acknowledgement number 505 from the connection information management unit 315. Then, the network transmission and reception unit 314 determines whether or not the sequence numbers 504 and the acknowledgement numbers 505 acquired from the received packet and the connection information
• step S806 If the numbers do not match in step S806, it is determined JP2010/070948
• step S806 If the numbers match in step S806, the procedure proceeds to step S807, in which the network transmission and reception unit 314 searches for targeted connection management information stored in the connection information management unit 315. Then in step S808, if targeted connection has not been registered in the connection information management unit 315, the network transmission and reception unit 314 discards the received packet and thereafter the procedure returns to step S801. On the other hand, if the targeted connection has been registered, the network transmission and reception unit 314 acquires the targeted connection management information from the connection information management unit 315. The procedure then proceeds to step S809, in which the network transmission and reception unit 314 checks the control flag in the received packet and confirms a packet control method.
• the network transmission and reception unit 314 transmits the connection management information included in the received packet to the connection information
• step S801 If the control flag is either RST or FIN, the procedure proceeds to step S812, in which the network transmission and reception unit 314 generates an Ack response packet for the received packet and transmits the Ack response packet to the other party via the network 103. Then, in step S813, the network transmission and reception unit 314 deletes the targeted connection management information stored in the connection information management unit 315, and thereafter the procedure returns to step S801. This means that the targeted connection has been
• step S810 the procedure proceeds to step S810, in which the network transmission and reception unit 314 passes the received packet to the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313.
• the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 thereby searches for an application protocol for which it is necessary to make a reversion or give a proxy response, based on the destination port number 503 in the received packet and the port number stored in the reversion/proxy response information holding unit 312.
• step S811 it is determined whether or not the search was successfully made and accordingly it is possible to make a reversion or give a proxy response for the received packet. If a
• step S814 the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 analyzes a command for each application protocol that corresponds to the destination port number 503 in the received packet and determines whether or not a proxy response is to be given (step S815) . If it has been determined in step S815 that a proxy response is to be given, the procedure proceeds to step S816, in which the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 generates a response packet for the received packet.
• step S817 in which the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313
• step S811 transmits the proxy response packet to the network 103 through the network transmission and reception unit 314.
• the procedure proceeds to step S818, in which the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 generates an error response packet for the received packet and transmits the error response packet in step S817.
• step S818 although there are cases in which an error response packet is generated and transmitted, as an alternative to this, there is also a processing method as a means for
• step S815 If it has been determined in step S815 that a proxy response is not to be given, the procedure proceeds to step S819, in which the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 instructs the network transmission and reception unit 314 and the connection information management unit 315 to stop connection control processing. Also, if the control flag is Syn in the above-described step S804, the procedure also proceeds to step S819, in which the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 instructs the network transmission and reception unit 314 and the connection information management unit 315 to stop connection control processing.
• step S820 in which the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 passes all the connection management
• step S821 in which the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313
• the image forming apparatus can transition from the non-power saving state to the power saving state while retaining a connection in the power saving state.
• An SMB (Server Message Block) protocol is a remote file exchange protocol provided by Microsoft Corporation and used quite commonly on Windows. The details of specifications thereof have been defined in the following URL: http://msdn.microsoft.com/ a- jp/library/cc246231 (en-us, PROT.10) .aspx.
• Internet File System is also a remote file exchange protocol similar to the SMB protocol.
• the details of specifications thereof have been defined in the following URL:
• SMB/CIFS protocols use either packets that operate on the TCP protocol or packets that operate on the UDP protocol, depending on processing contents.
• a description is given taking, as an example, processing using the TCP protocol related to the present
• FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an overview of a communication packet format used in the SMB/CIFS protocol .
• Reference numeral 901 designates the overall structure of an SMB/CIFS packet.
• the SMB/CIFS packet 901 includes an Ether header 401 and a
• the SMB/CIFS packet 901 also includes a TCP header 501 that follows the IP header 402 and requires a connection. In the case of
• the SMB/CIFS packet 901 always includes the Ether header 401, the IP header 402, and the TCP header 501.
• Reference numeral 902 designates an SMB/CIFS protocol field.
• SMB/CIFS protocol field 902 is roughly divided into two parts, namely an SMB/CIFS header 903 and an SMB/CIFS main body 904.
• the SMB/CIFS header 903 defines the types of requests from a client, a response code returned from a server, IDs used in various types of processing, and an option flag.
• the SMB/CIFS main body 904 defines detailed information regarding the types of requests defined by the SMB/CIFS header 903 and
• FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the most typical normal sequence performed between a client and a server in the case of browsing a remote file between terminals or performing file exchange.
• step S1001 in order to perform
• the client notifies the server of version information for the SMB/CIFS protocol supported by the client and issues a negotiation request to the server.
• the server receives the negotiation request from the client and acquires the protocol version information.
• the server compares the protocol version information with its own supported protocol information and returns a response to the client in order to negotiate about the supported protocol version between the client and the server.
• the negotiation is
• step S1003 the client issues a request to establish an SMB/CIFS protocol session to the server.
• this session establishment processing processing for authorizing the client and so on are usually performed.
• the server assigns a specific user ID to the client, sets the user ID in a session establishment response, and notifies the client of the session establishment response in step S1004.
• the server identifies the client based on the user ID.
• step S1005 the client issues a request to connect to a shared resource tree including path information for a shared resource to the server, in order to access the shared resource such as a file to be browsed, to be read, or to be written to.
• step S1006 the server acquires the path information for the shared resource and the user ID from the received shared resource tree connection request and assigns a tree ID that allows the client given the user ID to access the path information. Then, the server sets the tree ID in a shared resource tree connection response and notifies the client of the shared resource tree connection response. This allows the client to access (e.g., browse, read, or write to) a specific shared resource in the server.
• the server specifies the path information for the shared resource to be accessed by the client, using the tree ID.
• step S1007 the client issues a request to acquire the attribute of the shared resource to the server, in order to acquire a file under the specific shared folder to be accessed and attribute information for the shared file.
• step S1008 the server
• step S1010 the server thereby acquires resource path information to be processed by the client from the received open request and determines whether or not a corresponding path is present.
• the server opens the resource path or generates a new resource path. If the open processing has successfully been performed, the server assigns a file ID to the corresponding file. Then, the server sets a result of the open processing and the file ID in an open processing response and notifies the client of the open processing response. This allows the client to access the shared resource.
• step S1011 in which, after the open processing has successfully been performed, the client issues a read or write request to the server, using the file ID. Then, in step S1012, the server acquires the file ID from the received read or write request and specifies a file targeted for processing. The server then performs processing requested by the client on the targeted file. A result of the processing performed on the file is then set in a read or write response and the client is notified of the read or write response.
• step S1013 if the access to a specific file is to be ended, the client issues a request to close a resource to the server, using the file ID assigned to the specific file.
• step S1014 the server thereby acquires the file ID from the received resource close request and specifies the file
• the server then closes the file corresponding to the file ID and deletes the file ID assigned to that file. Then, the server sets the file ID and a result of the close processing in a resource close response, and notifies the client of the resource close response. This completes the client's operation of browsing the shared resource.
• connection to the shared resource tree is still retained between the client and the server at the point in time when step S1014 has been ended. Accordingly, the assigned user ID and the assigned tree ID remain unchanged as well, so that the client given the user ID can browse the shared resource simply by performing the processing in steps S1007 and S1008 again on the server, using the path to the shared resource tree corresponding to the tree ID.
• the client given the user ID can also access a specific file simply by performing the processing in steps S1007 to S1014 or the processing in steps S1009 to S1014 again on the server, using the tree ID.
• step S1015 the client issues a request to disconnect a shared resource tree to the server, using the tree ID.
• step S1016 the server acquires the tree ID from the received shared resource tree disconnection request and specifies a shared resource tree corresponding to the tree ID. The server then deletes information regarding the corresponding shared resource tree and the tree ID, sets the results thereof and the tree ID in a shared resource tree disconnection response, and notifies the client of the shared resource tree disconnection response. This ends the client's access to the specific shared resource.
• the S B/CIFS session is still retained between the client and the server at the point in time when step S1016 has been ended. Accordingly, the assigned user ID remains unchanged, and therefore the client can access the shared resource tree or other shared
• step S1017 the client issues a request to disconnect an SMB/CIFS session to the server, using the user ID.
• step S1018 the server thereby acquires the user ID from the received SMB/CIFS session
• the server then deletes information regarding the SMB/CIFS session and the user ID, sets the results thereof and the user ID in an SMB/CIFS session disconnection response, and notifies the client of the SMB/CIFS session disconnection response .
• the application protocol control unit 307 in the main control unit 200 receives SMB/CIFS data from the client and gives a response. Through this, management data such as the user ID, the tree ID, the file ID, and the option flag is held.
• the application protocol control unit 307 serves as an SMB/CIFS protocol control unit that controls the procedure shown in FIG. 10. Although a plurality of application protocol control units 307 exist for individual network protocols, a description of the SMB/CIFS protocol control unit is given in the second embodiment .
• SMB/CIFS protocol control unit receives requests described in steps S1001, S1003, S1005, S1007, S1009, S1011, S1013, S1015, and S1017 from packets sent from the client in the non-power saving state.
• the SMB/CIFS protocol control unit also notifies the client of responses to those requests in steps S1002, S1004, S1006, S1008, S1010, S1012, S1014, S1016, and S1018.
• the SMB/CIFS protocol control unit holds management data such as the user ID, the tree ID, the file ID, and the option flag and manages SMB/CIFS sessions, trees, and resources.
• Processing of SMB/CIFS application transition performed when the image forming apparatus 101 transitions from the non- power saving state to the power saving state can be applied to the processing in steps S707 and S708 in the flowchart of FIG. 7.
• the sleep control unit 302 notifies the SMB/CIFS protocol control unit to transition into the power saving state in step S707. This allows the SMB/CIFS protocol control unit to recognize that an instruction to transition from the non-power saving state to the power saving state has been issued.
• step S708 in which the SMB/CIFS protocol control unit that has received a notification of transition into the power saving state sets a condition for reversion to the non- power saving state after the transition into the power saving state has been made or a condition for giving a proxy response in the reversion/proxy response
• the SMB/CIFS protocol control unit sets its own managing information, such as the user ID, the tree ID, the file ID, and the option flag, the other party's IP address, and a protocol type
• the SMB/CIFS protocol control unit further sets path and attribute information for all resources, for which a client having a specific user ID and a specific tree ID has issued an attribute acquisition request in step S1007 in FIG. 10, in the reversion/proxy response information management unit 303.
• This attribute information includes a resource name, a resource size, access date and time, updated date and time, and creation date and time. Those pieces of management information and connection management information are passed to the sub control unit 210 in accordance with the procedure shown in FIG. 7, and thereby the
• FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating
• processing performed by the sub control unit 210 in the power saving state according to the second embodiment is performed under control of the Sub CPU 211 in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 212.
• the case where the SMB/CIFS protocol is applied to the above-described step S814 in FIG. 8B will be described with reference to FIG. 11.
• step S1101 the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 in the sub control unit 210 acquires a user ID from the received SMB/CIFS data and searches for the same user ID from SMB/CIFS data stored in the reversion/proxy response information holding unit 312. Then, it is determined in step S1102 whether or not the user ID is present in the
• the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 determines that the client has requested to establish a new SMB/CIFS connection, and therefore the procedure proceeds to step S1115, that is, the process of reversion to the non-power saving state.
• step S1115 that is, the process of reversion to the non-power saving state.
• reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 analyzes a command requested by the client in the received SMB/CIFS data. The procedure then proceeds to step S1104, in which it is determined whether or not the request command is a request to disconnect an
• step S1105 the procedure proceeds to step S1105, in which the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 deletes the user ID and related information in the reversion/proxy response information holding unit 312, and thereafter the procedure proceeds to step S1116.
• information refers to all SMB/CIFS data related to the user ID.
• step S1106 the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 acquires a tree ID from the received data. The procedure then proceeds to step S1107, in which the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313
• the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 If the tree ID being searched for is not present, the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313
• step S1115 determines that this is a client's request to connect to a new resource tree, and thereafter the procedure proceeds to step S1115 and shifts to the process of reversion to the non-power saving state.
• step S1108 in which the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 determines the type of the request command that was analyzed in step S1103.
• step S1108 if the request command is a request to disconnect a tree connection, the procedure proceeds to step S1109, in which the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 deletes the tree ID and related resource information held in the reversion/proxy response information holding unit 312, and thereafter the procedure proceeds to step S1116.
• the related resource information as used herein refers to all resource path information and attribute information existing under the shared resource corresponding to the tree ID.
• step S1108 the procedure proceeds to step S1110, in which the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 acquires a resource path targeted for processing from the received data.
• the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 searches for the same resource path as the acquired resource path from data related to the user ID and the tree ID held in the reversion/proxy response information holding unit 312. Then, it is determined in step Sllll whether or not the resource path being searched for is present.
• the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 determines that the client has requested to connect to a new resource path, and thereafter the procedure proceeds to step S1115 and shifts to the process of reversion to the non-power saving state.
• the procedure shifts to the process of reversion to the non-power saving state in step S1115, it is also possible, depending on specifications of proxy response processing, to determine that the resource path is not present and give an error proxy response indicating that fact.
• step S1112 the procedure proceeds to step S1112, in which the
• step S1103 determines the type of the request command that was analyzed in step S1103.
• the request command has been determined as a file control request for the resource path searched for, it becomes necessary to perform control processing on an entity file stored in the HDD 206 in the image forming apparatus 101.
• the procedure 206 in the image forming apparatus 101 is in the sleep mode in the power saving state and no power is passed in the power saving state, the image forming apparatus needs to revert to the non-power saving state if control processing needs to be performed on an entity file. Accordingly, in this case, the procedure
• step S1112 proceeds from step S1112 to step S1115, and the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 shifts to the process of reversion to the non-power saving state.
• the file control request determined in step S1112 refers to processing such as reading a file, writing to a file, duplicating a file, moving a file, and deleting a file.
• the request command has been determined as a request to search for a resource or a request to acquire the resource attribute in step S1112
• the procedure proceeds to step S1113.
• step S1113 the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 acquires resource attribute information under management of the reversion/proxy response information holding unit 312. The procedure then proceeds to step S1116.
• step S1112 If the request command has been determined as a request to close a resource in step S1112, the procedure proceeds to step S1114.
• step S1114 the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 deletes a resource file ID managed by the reversion/proxy response information holding unit 312.
• the application protocol control unit 307 in the Main CPU 201 is notified of all information managed by the reversion/proxy response information holding unit 312. This allows the
• step S1112 the procedure proceeds to step S1114.
• step S1114 the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 assigns a new file ID to a corresponding resource managed by the reversion/proxy response information holding unit 312.
• the application protocol control unit 307 in the Main CPU 201 is notified of all information managed by the reversion/proxy response information holding unit 312.
• step S1116 the reversion/proxy response determination unit 313 does not perform the process of reversion to the non-power saving state, and shifts to the process for giving a proxy response under control of the Sub CPU 211.
• aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of a system or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU) that reads out and
• the program is provided to the computer for example via a network or from a storage medium of various types serving as the memory device (e.g., computer-readable medium) .

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