JP5223586B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a copier, a printer, or a multifunction peripheral that can be connected to a network, and more particularly, to prevent a reduction in power saving efficiency when a status information transmission request is received from a network in a sleep mode. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of performing the above.

  An image processing apparatus typified by a digital multi-function peripheral can shift to a sleep mode (also referred to as an energy saving mode) in which energization of a system controller, an engine unit, or the like is stopped in order to reduce power consumption during idling. However, the image processing apparatus connected to the network may receive a status information transmission request from the host computer even in the sleep mode. In this case, since the image processing apparatus needs to return from the sleep mode and acquire status information, if the status information transmission requests from the host computer frequently occur, the time during which the sleep mode can be maintained is shortened, and the sleep mode is provided. The effect of reducing power consumption is reduced.

  In order to solve the above problem, in the image processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, communication control with the host computer is performed, and when the state of the image processing apparatus is in the normal mode, the main CPU (also serves as control of the controller). However, when the state of the image processing apparatus is in the sleep mode, the sub CPU performs each. In addition, when shifting to the sleep mode, the status information of the image processing apparatus is stored in the storage unit accessed by the sub CPU, and in the sleep mode, the status information stored in the storage unit is returned to return the status information. It is unnecessary to return each part of the image processing apparatus to the normal mode when collecting information, and the reduction of the low power consumption effect is prevented.

  However, the image processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the power consumption reduction effect is reduced for the following reason. That is, since the types of status information possessed by the image processing apparatus are diverse, the total size of all the status information becomes very large, and accordingly, the storage capacity required for the storage unit also increases. Since an increase in the storage capacity of the storage unit leads to an increase in power consumption, the power consumption necessary for storage increases and is not realistic. In addition, it is contrary to the original purpose of the sleep mode of reducing power consumption.

Therefore, in order to reduce the storage capacity of the storage unit accessed by the sub CPU, it can be considered that only specific status information is stored. However, in this configuration, when the frequency of transmission requests from the host computer for each status information changes, transmission requests for status information that is not stored frequently occur, and each time the status information is collected by returning to the normal mode. Therefore, the power saving efficiency may be significantly reduced.
JP 2005-178212 A

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the storage capacity necessary for storing status information in the sleep mode in an image processing apparatus connectable to a network and reduce power consumption. And a reduction in power saving efficiency due to frequent return to the normal mode when a status information transmission request is received in the sleep mode.

  The present invention is an image processing apparatus that has a normal mode and a sleep mode and can be connected to a network, and includes a main CPU that operates in the normal mode, a sub CPU that operates in the sleep mode, and a storage unit that can be accessed by the sub CPU. Collecting means for collecting status information of the image processing apparatus in the normal mode; and selecting means for dynamically selecting a part of the collected status information when shifting from the normal mode to the sleep mode. Means for writing the status information to the storage unit, and when receiving a transmission request for the status information stored in the storage unit via the network in the sleep mode, the status information is received by the sub CPU. An image read from the storage unit and sent back to the transmission request source It is a processing apparatus.

According to the image processing device of the present invention, when shifting from the normal mode to the sleep mode, part of the status information of the device is selected and stored, so that the sleep mode is compared with the case of storing all the status information. Sometimes the storage capacity required for storing status information can be reduced. Accordingly, the power consumption in the sleep mode can be reduced by the reduction in the storage capacity.
Further, since the selection unit dynamically selects the status information, even if the frequency of transmission requests for each status information changes, status transmission requests for status information not stored in the storage unit do not occur frequently. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a reduction in power saving efficiency due to frequent return to the normal mode when a status information transmission request is received in the sleep mode.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printer system which is a first embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the present invention. Here, an example of the configuration of the printer system and an example of connection between the host computer 2 are shown.

  The printer system 1 includes a controller 11 that controls the entire printer system, an engine unit 12 that forms an image, and an operation unit 13 that is operated by a user.

  The printer system 1 includes a normal mode that can execute all the functions of the printer, represented by printing, and a sleep mode that can use only a part of the functions but operates with low power consumption.

  The controller 11 develops a main CPU 111 that controls the controller 11, a program used by the main CPU 111, a first RAM 112 for temporarily storing calculation results, and controls the first RAM 112 and the engine unit 122. Expands the program used by the sub CPU 114 and the sub CPU 114 that controls and communicates with the ASIC 113 that controls and communicates with the operation unit 13 and the LAN I / F (interface) 117, and temporarily calculates the calculation result. A second RAM 115 for storing, a third RAM 116 used by the sub CPU 114 to store status information, and a LAN I / F 117 which is an I / F control circuit for LAN communication are provided.

  The ASIC 113 is connected to the engine unit 12, the main CPU 111, the first RAM 112, and the sub CPU 114. The sub CPU 114 is connected to the ASIC 113, the second RAM 115, the third RAM 116, the LAN I / F 117, and the operation unit 13. The LAN I / F 117 is connected to the host computer 2 via a LAN. The sub CPU 114 is configured to send an “WAKE” interrupt signal for requesting the ASIC 113 to return the ASIC 113 from the sleep mode state to the normal mode state.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a portion that is energized when the printer system 1 of FIG. 1 is in the sleep mode and a portion that is not energized. Here, the shaded blocks are blocks that are not energized during the sleep mode. In normal mode, all blocks are energized.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the sleep mode, only the main CPU 111, the first RAM 112, the ASIC 113, the engine unit 12, and the operation unit 13 in the controller 11 are energized. This reduces power consumption compared to the normal mode in which all blocks are energized.

  In the printer system 1 having the above configuration, after the system power is turned on, the printer system 1 shifts to the normal mode. In the normal mode, when a print job is transmitted from the host computer 2, print data of the print job is printed. When a status information transmission request is transmitted from the host computer 2, the printer system 1. Returns status information. Here, since the status information is collected from the engine unit 12 by the ASIC 113 and stored in the first RAM 112, when the status information transmission request is received, the main CPU 111 executes the ASIC 113, the sub CPU 114, and the LAN I / F 117. Status information can be returned to the host computer 2 via the network.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example of processing of the ASIC 113 in the process in which the printer system 1 shifts from the normal mode to the sleep mode.
First, it is checked whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the last printing operation by the engine unit 12, in other words, whether or not the printing operation has been performed for a certain time or more (step S1).

  If there is no printing operation for a certain time or longer (S1: Yes), status information is acquired as preparation for transition to the sleep mode and written to the first RAM 112 to collect status information (step S2). After the collection of status information is completed, a sleep mode transition request is sent to the engine unit 12 (step S3), and processing for selecting status information stored in the third RAM 116 in the sleep mode is executed (step S4). . Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  When the selection of status information is completed, the selected status information is transferred to the sub CPU 114 (step S5). The sub CPU 114 writes the transferred status information in the third RAM 116.

  Next, it is checked whether or not the engine unit 12 has transitioned to the sleep mode (step S6). If the transition has been completed (S6: Yes), the controller 11 also shifts to the sleep mode (step S7). This completes the transition of the printer system 1 to the sleep mode.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure when a status information transmission request is received from the host computer 2 in the sleep mode.
First, the sub CPU 114 checks whether or not the status information requested to be transmitted is stored in the third RAM 116 (step S11). If it is stored (S11: Yes), the sub CPU 114 reads the status information from the third RAM 116 and sends it back to the host computer 2 via the LAN I / F 117 (step S13). Mode can be maintained.

  On the other hand, if the status information requested to be transmitted is not stored in the third RAM 116 (S11: No), the sub CPU 114 sets “HAKE”, which is a request signal for returning the ASIC 113 to the normal mode, to “H”. “To the level.

  The ASIC 113 receives “WAKE” at the interrupt input terminal, returns from the low power consumption state to the normal operation state, sequentially returns each part of the controller 11 and the engine unit 12 from the low power consumption state to the normal operation state, Return to the normal mode (step S14).

  After returning to the normal mode, the ASIC 113 collects status information again, and the main CPU 111 returns it to the host computer 2 (steps S15 and S16).

  As an example of a method for selecting the status information stored in the third RAM 116 at the time of transition to the sleep mode, the frequency of the status information transmission request from the host computer 2 during the period from the start of the printer system 1 to the transition to the sleep mode. A method for preferentially selecting high status information will be described.

  First, in order to measure the frequency of status information transmission requests from the host computer 2, the ASIC 113 creates a list shown in FIG. 5 on the first RAM 112 immediately after the printer system 1 is activated. At this time, all the count value columns are initialized to zero.

  When the status information transmission request from the host computer 2 for certain status information is received in the normal mode, the corresponding count value in the list is incremented.

  If this process is performed until the sleep mode transition process (FIG. 4) starts, the count for each status information of the status information transmission request received from the start of the printer system 1 to the transition to the sleep mode is recorded in the count value. Therefore, by sorting the list in descending order with respect to the count value, a list in which status information is arranged in descending order of transmission request frequency can be obtained.

  Therefore, by selecting in order from the higher-order status information among the sorting results, it is possible to preferentially select status information with a high transmission request frequency. The range of status information stored at this time may be from the top of the list to a certain number or until the capacity limit of the third RAM 116 is reached.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure for storing until the capacity limit of the third RAM 116 is reached. In this processing procedure, a list indicating status information to be stored is created using a list structure.

  First, the above-described count values (FIG. 5) are sorted in descending order to obtain a list arranged in descending order of status information transmission request frequency (step S21). Next, the head of the list of sorting results is referred to (step S22), and the head is added as the head element of the list (step S23).

  Subsequently, the next sort result element is referred to (step S24), and when this element is added, it is checked whether the total size of the list and stored status information does not exceed the storage capacity of the third RAM 116 (step S24). S25).

  If it does not exceed (S25: Yes), the reference sort result is added to the end of the list, and the same process is repeated for the next sort result element (steps S26 → S27 →). S25). By using the list structure, such dynamic element addition (step S26) can be realized easily and at high speed.

  On the other hand, when the total size exceeds the storage capacity of the third RAM 116 (S25: No), the selection of the status information to be stored is terminated without adding the element.

  As described above, according to the printer system of the present embodiment, only a part of the status information stored in the third RAM 116 when shifting to the sleep mode, the third RAM 116 can have a small storage capacity. The power consumption of the third RAM 116 can be kept low.

  Further, even if the transmission request frequency from the host computer 2 for each status information changes, the status information stored in the third RAM 116 can be changed correspondingly, so that the status information not stored in the third RAM 116 can be changed. It is possible to prevent an increase in the number of times of transition from the sleep mode to the normal mode for acquisition, and to maintain energy saving efficiency.

  Furthermore, since the status information having a high transmission request frequency in the normal mode before shifting to the sleep mode is preferentially stored in the third RAM 116, the probability of being able to respond with only the stored status information is increased, thereby saving energy. Efficiency can be improved.

[Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment, as a method for selecting the status information to be stored at the time of transition to the sleep mode in the first embodiment, a certain number of status information is sent in the order of time from the reply to the status information transmission request in the sleep mode. This is a printer system that employs a storage method, and is otherwise the same as in the first embodiment.

Hereinafter, a method for selecting status information in the printer system of this embodiment will be described.
When the printer system 1 receives a status information transmission request from the host computer 2 when in the normal mode, the ASIC 113 collects status information and returns the main CPU 111 to the host computer 2 as in the first embodiment.

  At the time of the reply, the sub CPU 114 writes the reply content in the second RAM 115. In this writing, the second RAM 115 is divided into blocks as shown in FIG. 7, and one reply content is written in one block.

  Then, the next transmission content is repeatedly written to the next block, and the writing is continued until the last block. After writing to the last block, return to the first block and overwrite the recent reply contents.

  By writing in the second RAM 115 in this way, the second RAM 115 always stores the reply contents from the latest to a certain number of times. Since the status information is already stored in the second RAM 115 when shifting to the sleep mode, it is only necessary to shift the engine unit 12 and each unit in the controller 11 to the power saving state. Transition time can be shortened compared with the case of memorizing.

  Here, there may be a case where the status information stored in the second RAM 115 is not the latest because the status information has changed according to the print job. However, the interval between status information transmission requests is quite short with respect to the time when the print job is not executed until the sleep mode is entered, so that it is guaranteed that the status information is the same as the latest status information returned before entering the sleep mode. .

  As described above, according to the printer system of the present embodiment, the status information returned in response to the transmission request in the normal mode is cached in the second RAM 115 accessed by the sub CPU 114. Therefore, the status information when shifting to the sleep mode. Collection is unnecessary, and the transition time to the sleep mode can be shortened.

[Third Embodiment]
In the third embodiment, as a method for selecting status information to be stored at the time of transition to the sleep mode in the first embodiment, in addition to status information that the user desires to store, a method for storing status information having a high transmission request frequency is also stored. The printer system employed is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration of the operation unit 13 used when the user selects status information stored in the printer system according to the present embodiment when the printer enters the sleep mode.

  The operation unit 13 includes a display panel 131 for displaying information necessary for the user such as a list of status information that can be stored and whether the status information is stored, and movement of a cursor displayed on the display panel 131. A cursor key 132 for switching display contents, and an enter key 133 for switching whether to store status information selection notification by the user or status information indicated by the cursor.

  The “status type” column in the table displayed on the display panel 131 indicates the type of status information to be stored, and the status information stored in the “store” column on the right side is checked. It is. Further, the hatched portion in the table indicates a cursor, and in the figure, the status information “status 2” is focused. A triangle in the display panel 131 indicates that an operation can be performed with a cursor key corresponding to each direction.

  When the enter key 133 is pressed in this state, the check whether to store “status 2” is switched. In this state, when the up key 1321 of the cursor key 132 is pressed, the cursor moves up and “Status 1” is focused. When the down key 1323 of the cursor key 132 is pressed, the cursor moves down. "Status 3" is focused.

  Further, when the right movement key 1324 of the cursor key 132 is pressed in this state, the screen at the center of FIG. 9 is changed to a screen (only the lower screen of FIG. 9) on which status requests that are candidates for storage are displayed. Switch. To return to the screen for selecting the status information to be stored (the central screen in FIG. 9), the left movement key 1322 of the cursor key 132 is pressed.

  In addition, when the left move key 1322 of the cursor key 132 is pressed while the screen at the center of FIG. 9 is displayed, only a message that prompts the user to press the enter key 133 is displayed when the operation ends. Switch to the upper screen). In order to return to the central screen in FIG. 9, the right movement key 1324 of the cursor key 132 is pressed.

  Next, a method for selecting status information in the printer system of this embodiment will be described.

  First, in order to measure the frequency of status information transmission requests from the host computer 2, the ASIC 113 creates a list shown in FIG. 5 on the first RAM 112 immediately after the printer system 1 is activated. At this time, all the count value columns are initialized to zero.

  When the status information transmission request from the host computer 2 for certain status information is received in the normal mode, the corresponding count value in the list is incremented.

  In order to start the selection of the status information stored in the sleep mode from the state in which the printer system 1 is normally operating in the normal mode, the user presses the enter key 133 of the operation unit 13.

  The sub CPU 114 that has detected the pressing of the enter key 133 displays a status information selection screen on the display panel 131 of the operation unit 13. The user operates the cursor on the screen using the up key 13321 and down key 1323 of the cursor key 132, and presses the enter key 133 so that the status information to be stored is checked. At this time, the ASIC 113 updates the storage flag in the table of FIG. 8 corresponding to the content being displayed on the screen. The “storage flag” column in the table of FIG. 10 is “1” for status information that is checked in the table displayed on the operation panel 131 of FIG. 8, and “0” for status information that is not checked. To do.

  If the user wants to see the status information candidates stored as a list, when the right key 1324 of the cursor key 132 is pressed on the screen in the center of FIG. The list is switched to the information candidate list (the lower screen in FIG. 9). On this screen, the user can check whether the status information that he / she wants to memorize is already included in the candidate.

  To shift from this screen to the status information selection screen (the central screen in FIG. 9) again, the left movement key 1322 of the cursor key 132 is pressed. When the selection is finished, a screen (the upper screen in FIG. 9) is displayed by pressing the left move key 1322 of the cursor key 132 while the status information selection screen (the middle screen in FIG. 9) is displayed. When the enter key 133 is pressed in this state, the printer system 1 ends the status information selection by the user.

  Thereafter, the printer system operates in the normal mode and starts shifting to the sleep mode according to the flow of FIG. When selecting the status information to be stored (step S4 in FIG. 3), the status information is selected according to the flow in FIG.

  First, the list is sorted in descending order with respect to the count value (FIG. 5) to obtain a sorting result arranged in descending order of status transmission request frequency (step S31). Next, the head of the sorting result is referred to (step S32), and the status information specified by the user to be stored is added to the list of status information stored at the time of transition to the sleep mode using the list structure (step S33).

  Subsequently, the higher-order status information in the sorting result is referred to in order (step S34). At this time, if the referenced status information has already been added to the list (that is, specified by the user) (S34: Yes), the next sorting result is referred to (step S37).

  If the referenced status information has not yet been added to the list (S34: No), the total size of the list and stored status information does not exceed the storage capacity of the third RAM 116 by adding the status information. Whether or not (step S35).

  If it does not exceed (S35: Yes), the reference sort result is added to the end of the list (step S36), and the same process is repeated for the next sort result element (step S36). S37 → S34 → S35).

  On the other hand, if the total size exceeds the storage capacity of the third RAM 116 (S35: No), the selection of the status information to be stored without adding the element ends.

  As described above, according to the printer system of the present embodiment, the user can select the status information to be stored at the time of shifting to the sleep mode from the operation unit 13, so that it is possible to meet the user's request to store a certain status.

  In addition, since the status information candidates to be stored at the time of transition to the sleep mode are displayed on the operation unit 13, it is possible to reduce the burden when checking whether the status information that the user is trying to store is included in the candidates. .

1 is a block diagram of a printer system that is a first embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a portion that is energized when the printer system of FIG. 1 is in a sleep mode and a portion that is not energized. 2 is a flowchart of an example of an ASIC process in the process in which the printer system of FIG. 1 shifts from a normal mode to a sleep mode. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure when a status information transmission request is received from a host computer in a sleep mode. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a list of status information and its count value created on the first RAM immediately after activation of the printer system of FIG. 1. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure when status information is stored until the capacity limit of the third RAM in FIG. 1 is reached. It is a figure which shows the return content written in 2nd RAM when the printer system of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention returns status information. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an operation unit used when a user selects status information stored when a printer system according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention shifts to a sleep mode. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a change in the display screen accompanying the operation of the cursor key in the operation unit of FIG. 8. It is a figure which shows the status information corresponding to the content currently displayed on the screen of FIG. 8, and its storage flag. 14 is a flowchart of processing for selecting status information stored in a third RAM in the printer system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer system, 2 ... Host computer, 11 ... Controller, 12 ... Engine part, 13 ... Operation part, 111 ... Main CPU, 112 ... 1st RAM, 113 ... ASIC, 114 ... sub CPU, 115 ... second RAM, 116 ... third RAM.

Claims (5)

An image processing apparatus that has a normal mode and a sleep mode and can be connected to a network,
A main CPU that operates in the normal mode, a sub CPU that operates in the sleep mode, a storage unit accessible by the sub CPU, a collection unit that collects status information of the image processing apparatus in the normal mode, and a sleep mode from the normal mode to the sleep mode A selection means for dynamically selecting a part of the collected status information and a means for writing the selected status information to the storage unit when moving to, via the network during the sleep mode, When receiving a transmission request for status information stored in the storage unit, the status information is read from the storage unit by the sub CPU and returned to the transmission request source. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
An image processing apparatus characterized in that the selection means preferentially selects status information having a high transmission request frequency in the normal mode before shifting to the sleep mode. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
An image processing apparatus having an operation unit, wherein the selection unit selects status information arbitrarily designated by the user from the operation unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 ,
An image processing apparatus comprising means for determining status information candidates to be selected, and displaying the candidates on the operation unit. In the image processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
When a request for transmitting status information not stored in the storage unit is received via the network in the sleep mode, the sub CPU shifts the image processing apparatus from the sleep mode to the normal mode, and is collected by the collecting unit after the transition. An image processing apparatus which returns the status information under the control of the main CPU.

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