JP5480194B2 - Image forming apparatus and system management program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a system management program.

  In recent years, some image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and multifunction machines have a sleep mode and a power saving mode. For example, an image forming apparatus includes an energy saving subsystem that consumes less power than the main system, supplies power to the energy saving subsystem, and includes a main system and a print engine, scanner, display panel, and the like controlled by the main system. By stopping the supply of power to each subsystem, the state shifts to the sleep state. The energy saving subsystem controls power supply to the main system and each subsystem (print engine, scanner, display panel, etc.). In such an image forming apparatus, since power is supplied only to the energy saving subsystem during the sleep state, power consumption in the sleep state is suppressed (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  When the above-mentioned energy saving subsystem receives data from the host device during the sleep state, it supplies power to the main system to start the main system. Therefore, since the data received from the host device is processed by the main system, the processing of the data received from the host device in the sleep state causes a delay due to the activation of the main system.

  On the other hand, in another image forming apparatus, when there is data reception in the power saving mode, the reception speed is reduced and the initialization process for returning to the normal mode is started and the reception process is started, and then the initialization process is completed. Then, the reception speed is restored (for example, see Patent Document 3).

JP-A-8-101606 JP 2004-5029 A JP 2001-84116 A

  In the above-described image forming apparatus, if there is data reception in the power saving mode, the initialization process is always executed. Therefore, after shifting to the power saving mode, it is easy to return to the normal mode and the degree of power saving is low.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain an image forming apparatus and a data receiving program with a high degree of power saving.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a communication interface that receives data, a buffer that temporarily stores data received by the communication interface, a main system that processes data stored in the buffer, and a main system. One or a plurality of subsystems that are respectively controlled to realize one or a plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus, and a power supply to the main system and the one or a plurality of subsystems are controlled, a buffer, a system control unit, and data And an energy saving subsystem having a processing unit. The operation state of the image forming apparatus includes a normal operation state in which the main system, one or more subsystems, and the energy saving subsystem are operating, and one or more subsystems in which the main system and the energy saving subsystem are operating. Is either a light sleep state in which the power is off, or a deep sleep state in which the energy-saving subsystem is operating and the main system and one or more subsystems are in the power off state. Switching from the operation state to the light sleep state or deep sleep state, and switching from the light sleep state to the normal operation state is determined by the main system, and switching from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state is determined by the system control unit. Is done. The data processing unit reads the data from the buffer, processes the data when it is determined that the data can be processed by the data processing unit, and the image forming apparatus when it determines that the data processing unit cannot process the data. It is determined whether or not the operation state is a deep sleep state. When the current operation state of the image forming apparatus is the deep sleep state, the data processing unit switches the operation state of the image forming apparatus from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state by the system control unit. When the system processes data and the current operation state of the image forming apparatus is the normal operation state and the light sleep state, the operating main system processes the data. Further, in the case where a FAX board is attached to the image forming apparatus, a USB device is connected to the image forming apparatus, or a network cable is connected to the image forming apparatus The operation state of the image forming apparatus is switched from the normal operation state to the light sleep state instead of the deep sleep state.

  As a result, even if data is received, if the data can be processed by the data processing unit, the main system is not restored, so the frequency with which the main system returns from the deep sleep state is reduced, and the image forming apparatus is saved. The degree of power increases.

  In addition to the image forming apparatus described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the image forming apparatus includes a cache memory. The data processing unit stores the status data of the image forming apparatus in the cache memory when the system control unit switches the operation state of the image forming apparatus from the normal operation state to the deep sleep state, and receives the data received from the buffer. However, if the data can be processed based on the status data, it is determined that the data can be processed by the data processing unit.

  As a result, when the received data is a request that can be responded based on the status data, the main system is not restored, so the frequency of the main system returning from the deep sleep state is reduced, and the power saving of the image forming apparatus is reduced. The degree becomes higher.

  In addition to the image forming apparatus described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the data processing unit is configured to process at least one operation of the main system and one or more subsystems or at least one of the main system and one or more subsystems for processing data received from the buffer. When it is necessary to acquire the state information, it is determined that the data cannot be processed by the data processing unit.

  In addition to the image forming apparatus described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, when the system control unit switches the state of the main system from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state, the data processing unit reduces the data storage speed from the communication interface to the buffer, and forms the image in the normal operation state. When the switching of the operation state of the apparatus is completed, the data storage speed is returned to the original speed.

  This makes it difficult for buffer full to occur during the period until the main system is restored.

  In addition to the image forming apparatus described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured as follows. In this case, the communication interface, the buffer, the system control unit, and the data processing unit are separated from the first hardware on which the main system is mounted and the second hardware on which one or more subsystems are mounted. The system controller, when switching the operation state of the image forming apparatus from the normal operation state to the deep sleep state, does not turn off the power supply of the third hardware. The power of the first hardware and the power of the second hardware are turned off, and the power of the first hardware and the power of the second hardware are turned on when the operation state of the image forming apparatus is switched from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state. To do.

  Thereby, at the time of deep sleep, the main system can be brought into a completely down state, and power consumption is reduced.

A system management program according to the present invention includes a communication interface that receives data, a buffer that temporarily stores data received by the communication interface, a main system that processes data stored in the buffer, and a main system. One or a plurality of subsystems that are controlled to realize one or more functions of the image forming apparatus, respectively, and an energy saving subsystem that controls power supply to the main system and the one or more subsystems and has a buffer The computer in the energy saving subsystem in the image forming apparatus provided is caused to function as a system control unit and a data processing unit. The operation state of the image forming apparatus includes a normal operation state in which the main system, one or a plurality of subsystems, and the energy saving subsystem are operating, and a state in which the main system and the energy saving subsystem are in operation, and one or more subsystems Normal operation, either a light sleep state in which the power is off, or a deep sleep state in which the energy-saving subsystem is operating and the main system and one or more subsystems are in the power off state Switching from the light sleep state to the deep sleep state, and switching from the light sleep state to the normal operation state are determined by the main system, and switching from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state is determined by the system control unit. The The data processing unit reads the data from the buffer, processes the data when it is determined that the data can be processed by the data processing unit, and when the data processing unit determines that the data cannot be processed by the data processing unit. It is determined whether or not the operation state is a deep sleep state. If the current operation state of the image forming apparatus is the deep sleep state, the system control unit changes the operation state of the image forming apparatus from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state. Switch. When the current operation state of the image forming apparatus is in the deep sleep state, the data processing unit changes the operation state of the image forming apparatus from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state by the system control unit and then the main system. When the current operation state of the image forming apparatus is the normal operation state and the light sleep state, the main system is operating. Further, in the case where a FAX board is attached to the image forming apparatus, a USB device is connected to the image forming apparatus, or a network cable is connected to the image forming apparatus The operation state of the image forming apparatus is switched from the normal operation state to the light sleep state instead of the deep sleep state.

  As a result, even if data is received, if the data can be processed by the data processing unit, the main system is not restored, so the frequency with which the main system returns from the deep sleep state is reduced, and the image forming apparatus is saved. The degree of power increases.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an image forming apparatus with a low frequency of returning from the main system and a high degree of power saving, and a system management program for making the image forming apparatus do so.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation (mainly the operation of the data processing unit) of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral, and is connected to a host apparatus 2 such as a personal computer, receives data from the host apparatus 2 and processes it appropriately.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a main system 11, one or a plurality of subsystems 12-1 to 12 -N, and an energy saving subsystem 13.

  The main system 11 is a device that causes the subsystem to execute various processes, and the subsystems 12-i (i = 1,..., N) are controlled by the main system 11 and the image forming apparatus 1 It is a device that realizes each of the functions (printer function, scanner function, facsimile communication function, user interface function of the operation panel, etc.). The energy saving subsystem 13 is a device that receives data from the host device 2 data and switches the operating state of the main system 11 and one or more subsystems 12-1 to 12-N.

  The main system 11, the one or more subsystems 12-1 to 12-N, and the energy saving subsystem 13 are each implemented by independent hardware (for example, a circuit board), and the power is turned on / off for each hardware. Is possible.

  The operation state of the image forming apparatus 1 (that is, the operation state of the main system 11 and the subsystems 12-1 to 12-N) is any one of a normal operation state, a light sleep state, and a deep sleep state. In the normal operation state, the main system 11, one or a plurality of subsystems 12-1 to 12-N, and the energy saving subsystem 13 are operating. In the light sleep state, the main system 11 and the energy saving subsystem 13 are operating, and the subsystems 12-1 to 12-N are in a power-off state. In the deep sleep state, the energy saving subsystem 13 is operating, and the main system 11 and the subsystems 12-1 to 12-N are in a power-off state.

  Switching from the normal operation state to the light sleep state or the deep sleep state and switching from the light sleep state to the normal operation state are determined by the main system 11. Switching from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state is determined by the energy saving subsystem 13. The deep sleep state has a greater energy saving effect because it consumes less power than the light sleep state. However, in the deep sleep state, it takes more time to shift to the normal operation state than in the light sleep state. For this reason, when data is received from the outside, processing of the data is delayed. For this reason, when a FAX board is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 or a USB memory or other USB device, a network cable, or the like is connected to the image forming apparatus 1 according to a user's request, the operation state of the image forming apparatus 1 is It can be set to switch from the normal operation state to the light sleep state instead of the deep sleep state.

  The energy saving subsystem 13 includes a communication interface 21, a buffer 22, an arithmetic processing device 23, a storage device 24, and a cache memory 25.

  The communication interface 21 is an interface circuit that receives data from the host device 2, and the buffer 22 is a device such as a memory that temporarily stores data received by the communication interface 21. Data received by the communication interface 21 is sequentially stored in the buffer 22 and is deleted from the buffer 22 when processed.

  In the normal operation state and the light sleep state, the data stored in the buffer 22 is processed by the main system 11, and in the deep sleep state, the data stored in the buffer 22 can be processed by the data processing unit 31 described later. Is determined, the data processing unit 31 of the arithmetic processing unit 23 processes the data.

  The arithmetic processing unit 23 is a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and loads the program from the storage device 24, the ROM, etc. to the RAM. Various processing units are realized by being executed by the CPU. The storage device 24 is a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk drive or a flash memory, and stores a program 24 a that is executed by the arithmetic processing device 23. The program 24a may be recorded on a portable recording medium, and the storage device 24 may be a recording device that reads the program 24a from the recording medium.

  After the image forming apparatus 1 is started, the program 24a is executed by the arithmetic processing unit 23. In this embodiment, the processing unit such as the data processing unit 31 and the system control unit 32 is realized by executing the program 24a in the arithmetic processing unit 23.

  When the main system 11 is in the deep sleep state, when the data processing unit 31 receives data that can be processed by the data processing unit 31 from the buffer 22, the data processing unit 31 processes the data, and the data processing unit 31 cannot process the data. When no data is received from the buffer 22, the system control unit 32 switches the operation state of the image forming apparatus 1 from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state.

  The system control unit 32 switches the states of the main system 11 and the subsystems 12-1 to 12-N from one of the normal operation state and the deep sleep state to the other.

  The cache memory 25 is a memory such as a RAM. When the state of the main system 11 is switched from the normal operation state to the deep sleep state, the data processing unit 31 includes an internal state of the image forming apparatus 1 (an operation state of the image forming apparatus 1 and optional equipment for the image forming apparatus). Status, version information of software used in the image forming apparatus 1, etc.) are collected from the main system 11, subsystems 12-1 to 12 -N, etc., and stored in the cache memory 25 as status data 25 a. If the received data is a request that can be processed based on the status data 25a, the data processing unit 31 determines that the data processing unit 31 can process the data.

  For example, an address resolution protocol (ARP) request, a post office protocol version 3 (POP3) response, a command requesting the state of the image forming apparatus 1, and the like are determined to be processable by the data processing unit 31. The ARP request is data received from the host apparatus 2 that requests the Media Access Control (MAC) address of the image forming apparatus 1. The POP3 response is data received from the external device as a response to the POP3 request transmitted from the energy saving subsystem 13 to the mail server that is an external device for confirmation of the e-mail. The command requesting the state of the image forming apparatus 1 is data received from the host apparatus 2 requesting the status of the image forming apparatus 1 such as a sleep state or a paper jam state.

  The data processing unit 31 operates at least one of the main system 11 and the subsystems 12-1 to 12-N or the main system 11 and the subsystems 12-1 to 12- for processing the received data. When it is necessary to acquire state information from at least one of N, it is determined that the received data cannot be processed by the data processing unit 31. For example, print data, data read / write commands held in the subsystem 12-i, processing commands to the subsystem 12-i, and the like are determined not to be processed by the data processing unit 31.

  When the system control unit 32 switches the state of the main system 11 from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state, the data processing unit 31 controls the communication interface 21 to control the data storage speed from the communication interface 21 to the buffer 22. When the switching of the state of the main system 11 to the normal operation state is completed, the data storage speed is returned to the original speed.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus will be described.

  In the normal operation state, when data from the host device 2 is received, the main system 11 reads the data from the buffer 22, processes the data, and performs processing designated by the data in the main system 11. Or in the subsystem 12-i.

  When the condition for shifting to the deep sleep state is satisfied in the normal operation state, the main system 11 transmits a request for shifting to the deep sleep state to the energy saving subsystem 13. When receiving the request, the data processing unit 31 of the energy saving subsystem 13 updates the status data 25a, and then causes the system control unit 23 to turn off the main system 11 and the subsystems 12-1 to 12-N. . Thereby, it will be in a deep sleep state. Specifically, in FIG. 1, the communication interface 21, the buffer 22, the system control unit 32, and the data processing unit 31 include the first hardware on which the main system 11 is mounted and the subsystems 12-1 to 12-N. When the system control unit 32 switches the operation state of the image forming apparatus 1 from the normal operation state to the deep sleep state, it is mounted on the third hardware separated from the mounted second hardware. The power supply of the first hardware and the power supply of the second hardware are turned off without turning off the power supply of the third hardware.

  In the deep sleep state, the energy saving subsystem 13 continues to operate. When data is transmitted from the host device 2, the communication interface 21 receives the data and writes it in the buffer 22.

  The data processing unit 31 of the energy saving subsystem 13 processes the data by itself according to the data written in the buffer 22, or restores the main system 11 and the subsystems 12-1 to 12-N to the normal operation state. Decide what you want to do.

  Here, the operation of the data processing unit 31 of the energy saving subsystem 13 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 (mainly the operation of the data processing unit 31).

  The data processing unit 31 reads the received data from the buffer 22 in the order of FIFO (First-In First-Out) (step S1).

  Then, the data processing unit 31 determines whether or not the read data is data that can be processed by the energy saving subsystem 13 (that is, the data processing unit 31) (step S2).

  When the read data is data that can be processed by the energy saving subsystem 13, the data processing unit 31 processes the data (step S3), and when the processing is completed, deletes the received data from the buffer 22 (step S4). ).

  If the read data is not data that can be processed by the energy saving subsystem 13, the data processing unit 31 determines whether or not the current operation state of the image forming apparatus 1 is the deep sleep state (step S5). If the current operation state is not the deep sleep state, the main system 11 is operating, so the data processing unit 31 does not execute processing for this data, but the main system 11 executes processing for this data ( Step S10).

  On the other hand, when the current operation state is the deep sleep state, the data processing unit 31 controls the communication interface 21 to reduce the data storage speed in the buffer 22 to a predetermined speed (step S6) and system control. The unit 32 is made to turn on the power of the main system 11 and the subsystems 12-1 to 12-N and execute the return to the normal operation state (step S7). Specifically, when the system control unit 32 switches the operation state of the image forming apparatus 1 from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state, the power source of the first hardware and the power source of the second hardware described above are used. Turn on. Note that the data storage speed in the buffer 22 is reduced by reducing the data size stored in one operation of storing in the buffer 22.

  Thereafter, when the return to the normal operation state is completed (step S8), the data processing unit 31 controls the communication interface 21 to return the data storage speed to the buffer 22 to the original speed (step S9).

  When returning to the normal operation state, the main system 11 reads and processes the received data stored in the buffer 22 (step S10), and when the processing is completed, the processed data is erased from the buffer 22.

  As described above, according to the embodiment, the data processing unit 31 of the energy saving subsystem 13 can be processed by the data processing unit 31 when the operation state of the image forming apparatus 1 is in the deep sleep state. When the determined data is received from the buffer 22, the data is processed. On the other hand, when the data determined not to be processed by the data processing unit 31 is received from the buffer 22, the system control unit 32 causes the image forming apparatus 1. Is switched from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state.

  Thereby, even if data is received, when the data can be processed by the data processing unit 31, the main system 11 does not return to the normal operation state, so the main system 11 returns from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state. The frequency is reduced and the degree of power saving of the image forming apparatus 1 is increased.

  The above-described embodiments are preferred examples of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. is there.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the state in which the main system 11 is operating is divided into the normal operation state and the light sleep state. However, all the states in which the main system 11 is in operation are normal operation states. Good.

  The present invention is applicable to, for example, an image forming apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 11 Main system 12-1 to 12-N Subsystem 21 Communication interface 22 Buffer 23 Arithmetic processing device (an example of a computer)
24a program (an example of a system management program)
25 cache memory 25a status data 31 data processing unit 32 system control unit

Claims (6)

A communication interface for receiving data;
A buffer for temporarily storing data received by the communication interface;
A main system for processing the data stored in the buffer;
One or more subsystems that are controlled by the main system and realize one or more functions of the image forming apparatus;
An energy-saving subsystem that controls power supply to the main system and the one or more subsystems and includes the buffer, a system control unit, and a data processing unit;
The operation state of the image forming apparatus includes a normal operation state in which the main system, the one or more subsystems, and the energy saving subsystem are operating, and the main system and the energy saving subsystem are in operation. A light sleep state in which one or more subsystems are in a power-off state, and a deep sleep state in which the energy saving subsystem is operating and the main system and the one or more subsystems are in a power-off state One of the
Switching from the normal operation state to the light sleep state or the deep sleep state, and switching from the light sleep state to the normal operation state is determined by the main system, and from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state. Switching is determined by the system control unit,
The data processing unit reads the data from the buffer, processes the data when determining that the data can be processed by the data processing unit, and determines that the data processing unit cannot process the data. Determining whether the operation state of the image forming apparatus is the deep sleep state;
When the current operation state of the image forming apparatus is the deep sleep state, the data processing unit causes the system control unit to switch the operation state of the image forming apparatus from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state. Later, the main system processes the data,
When the current operation state of the image forming apparatus is the normal operation state and the light sleep state, the operating main system processes the data ,
When the image forming apparatus is equipped with a FAX board, when a USB device is connected to the image forming apparatus, or when a network cable is connected to the image forming apparatus The operation state of the image forming apparatus is switched from the normal operation state to the light sleep state instead of the deep sleep state.
An image forming apparatus. With cache memory,
The data processing unit stores status data of the image forming apparatus in the cache memory and receives it from the buffer when the system control unit switches the operation state of the image forming apparatus from a normal operation state to a deep sleep state. Determining that the data can be processed by the data processing unit when the processed data is processable based on the status data;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The data processing unit is configured to process at least one operation of the main system and the one or more subsystems, or at least one of the main system and the one or more subsystems, for processing data received from the buffer. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when it is necessary to acquire status information from one of the two, the data is determined not to be processable by the data processing unit.   The data processing unit reduces the data storage speed from the communication interface to the buffer when the system control unit switches the state of the main system from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state, and 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the operation state of the image forming apparatus is switched, the data storage speed is returned to the original speed. The communication interface, the buffer, the system control unit, and the data processing unit are separated from first hardware on which the main system is mounted and second hardware on which the one or more subsystems are mounted. Implemented on the third hardware,
When the operation state of the image forming apparatus is switched from the normal operation state to the deep sleep state, the system control unit does not turn off the power supply of the third hardware, and the power supply of the first hardware and the second hardware. Turning off the power of the hardware and turning on the power of the first hardware and the power of the second hardware when the operation state of the image forming apparatus is switched from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. A communication interface for receiving data; a buffer for temporarily storing data received by the communication interface; a main system for processing data stored in the buffer; and the image forming apparatus controlled by the main system The image comprising: one or a plurality of subsystems that respectively realize one or a plurality of functions of; and an energy saving subsystem that controls power supply to the main system and the one or more subsystems and includes the buffer The computer in the energy saving subsystem in the forming apparatus functions as a system control unit and a data processing unit,
The operation state of the image forming apparatus includes a normal operation state in which the main system, the one or more subsystems, and the energy saving subsystem are operating, and the main system and the energy saving subsystem are in operation. A light sleep state in which one or more subsystems are in a power-off state, and a deep sleep state in which the energy saving subsystem is operating and the main system and the one or more subsystems are in a power-off state One of the
Switching from the normal operation state to the light sleep state or the deep sleep state, and switching from the light sleep state to the normal operation state is determined by the main system, and from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state. Switching is determined by the system control unit,
The data processing unit reads the data from the buffer, processes the data when determining that the data can be processed by the data processing unit, and determines that the data processing unit cannot process the data. It is determined whether or not the operation state of the image forming apparatus is the deep sleep state. When the current operation state of the image forming apparatus is the deep sleep state, the system control unit operates the image forming apparatus. Switch the state from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state,
When the current operation state of the image forming apparatus is the deep sleep state, the data processing unit changes the operation state of the image forming apparatus from the deep sleep state to the normal operation state by the system control unit. Is processed by the main system, and when the current operation state of the image forming apparatus is the normal operation state and the light sleep state, the image processing apparatus is processed by the operating main system ,
When a FAX board is attached to the image forming apparatus, when a USB device is connected to the image forming apparatus, or when a network cable is connected to the image forming apparatus The operation state of the image forming apparatus is switched from the normal operation state to the light sleep state instead of the deep sleep state.
System management program characterized by

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