JP2007215034A - Image processor and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology for attaining reduction in power consumption. <P>SOLUTION: A job and a time information where a time for executing the job are received as a set. A time for restoring to the job is acquired by subtracting the time required for shifting to an operable state from the state where a power supply of the device used for processing the job that is received is interrupted, from the time information received with the job as a set. If the power supply of the device is interrupted, a power is supplied to the device at such timing as based on the restoring time calculated for the job and a current time clocked with an RTC150, while the device is made to process the job. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply control process of an image processing apparatus.

Patent Document 1 discloses that power saving is realized by using a real-time clock (RTC) and putting the device in a sleep state for a longer time.
JP 2002-300369 A

  Many recent image forming apparatuses have a “low power mode function” that reduces power consumption in a standby state. There are the following methods for realizing low power.

  1 Turn off the power to the fixing heater and motor (low power state).

  2 The CPU clock is set to a low speed, and the CPU is placed in an interrupt waiting state, whereby a low power state (hereinafter referred to as a CPU sleep state) is set (CPU sleep state).

  3 After holding the memory contents in the battery, stop the power supply to the CPU, start the CPU with a trigger such as timer or network reception, and then return using the stored memory contents (CPU stop Status).

  In order to reduce power consumption efficiently when the time to return from the sleep or stop state is determined in advance, a timer function or an alarm function of a real-time clock (RTC) is usually used.

  The following types of jobs have time specifications.

  1 Reception / transmission of specified time of facsimile.

  2 Output of the aggregate results such as device usage status.

  3 Regular confirmation of e-mail reception.

  These operations are performed in different units, and the time required for each unit to return from the sleep or stop state varies. In particular, in an operation accompanied by output to paper, it is necessary to adjust the temperature of the fixing heater, so that it takes a very long time to return.

  Therefore, the return time set in the RTC needs to be set on the basis of the time that takes the longest time to return so that any operation may be performed after the return. For this reason, since an operation not accompanied by output to paper is also restored in advance, it has not been possible to realize an efficient reduction in power consumption.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a technique for realizing more efficient power consumption reduction.

  In order to achieve the object of the present invention, for example, an image processing apparatus of the present invention comprises the following arrangement.

That is, an image processing apparatus having a plurality of processing units provided according to the type of job to be executed and capable of individually controlling the power supply of each processing unit,
For each of the plurality of processing means, holding means for holding required time information indicating a required time required to shift from a power-off state to an operable state;
Receiving means for receiving a job and time information in which the time of execution of the job is recorded;
Calculating means for obtaining a return time for the job by subtracting the time required for the processing means used for processing the job received by the receiving means from the time information received by the receiving means as a set with the job; ,
A time measuring means for measuring the current time;
When the power of the processing means used to process the job received by at least the receiving means among the plurality of processing means is in a cut-off state, the return time calculated by the calculating means for the job, and the time measuring means And a control means for supplying power to the processing means used for processing the job at a timing based on the current time measured by the processing means and causing the processing means to execute the processing of the job. To do.

  In order to achieve the object of the present invention, for example, a method for controlling an image processing apparatus of the present invention comprises the following arrangement.

That is, a control method for an image processing apparatus having a plurality of processing units provided according to the type of job to be executed and capable of individually controlling the power supply of each processing unit,
For each of the plurality of processing means, a holding step for holding in the memory the required time information that describes the required time required to shift from a power-off state to an operable state;
A receiving step for receiving a set of time information in which a job and a time at which the job is to be executed are set; and
A calculation step for obtaining a return time for the job by subtracting a time required for processing means used for processing the job received in the reception step from the time information received in the reception step as a set with the job; ,
A timekeeping process that measures the current time;
If the processing means used to process at least the job received in the receiving step among the plurality of processing means is in a power-off state, the return time calculated in the calculation step for the job, and the time measuring step And a control step for supplying power to the processing means used for processing the job at a timing based on the current time measured in step (b) and causing the processing means to execute processing of the job. To do.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, more efficient power consumption reduction can be realized.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail according to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the image processing apparatus according to this embodiment includes a main body 100, a scanner 200, a printer 300, a liquid crystal touch panel 400, and a hard disk device 500.

  First, the main body 100 will be described.

  The MPU 110 controls the operation of each unit constituting the image processing apparatus using programs and data stored in the ROM 120, the SRAM 130, and the RAM 160, and executes each process described below performed by the image processing apparatus. Further, the MPU 110 has a function of individually controlling the power sources of the units (scanner 200, printer 300, FAX 140, LANC 190 in the figure) provided in the image processing apparatus in order to process various jobs. Details of this power control will be described later.

  The ROM 120 stores programs and data for causing the MPU 110 to execute control of the entire image processing apparatus, each process described later performed by the image processing apparatus, and the like, setting data of the image processing apparatus, and the like. Programs and data stored in the ROM 120 are appropriately loaded into the RAM 160 under the control of the MPU 110 and are processed by the MPU 110.

  The SRAM 130 stores various installation data of the image processing apparatus.

  The FAX 140 is connected to the telephone line 600 and performs data transmission / reception processing with the outside via the telephone line 600.

  The RTC 150 is a real-time clock that measures the current time, and has a secondary power source that is separate from the main power source of the image processing apparatus. That is, even if the main power supply of the image processing apparatus is shut off, the RTC 150 can operate using this secondary power supply and can continue the time measurement process.

  The RAM 160 has an area for temporarily storing programs and data loaded from the hard disk device 500 and the ROM 120, data inputted from the scanner 200 and the LANC 190, and the like. The RAM 160 also has a work area that is used by the MPU 110 to execute various processes. That is, various areas are appropriately provided in the RAM 160.

  LCDC 170 controls the operation of liquid crystal touch panel 400. Various displays are made on the display screen of the liquid crystal touch panel 400, and various instructions can be input via the liquid crystal touch panel 400. Therefore, the LCDC 170 performs display control processing for displaying images and characters on the liquid crystal touch panel 400, and performs processing for notifying the MPU 110 of the instruction content input via the liquid crystal touch panel 400.

  The HDC 180 performs access control processing for the hard disk device 500. That is, a writing process to the hard disk device 500 and a reading process from the hard disk device 500 are performed.

  The hard disk device 500 stores an OS (operating system), programs and data related to display on the liquid crystal touch panel 400, and the like. These programs and data are loaded into the RAM 160 as appropriate under the control of the MPU 110. Note that the data acquired from the scanner 200 may be stored in the hard disk device 500.

  The LANC 190 is connected to the LAN 700 and performs data communication with the outside via the LAN 700.

  Next, the scanner 200 will be described. The scanner 200 is an example of an image input device, and reads information recorded on a recording medium such as paper as image data, as is well known.

  Next, the printer 300 will be described. The printer 300 is an apparatus as an example of an image output apparatus, and as is well known, performs processing for recording images, characters, and the like on a recording medium such as paper.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the power control unit 111 provided in the MPU 110 and peripheral portions connected thereto. As shown in the figure, a power supply control unit 111 is provided in the MPU 110. This power supply control unit 111 is provided in an RTC 150, a FAX 140, a LANC 190, and an operation unit (not shown) provided in the image processing apparatus. Button 410 is connected.

  Here, when the MPU 110 detects that a predetermined condition (for example, a state in which no information or instruction is input to the apparatus continues for a predetermined time or longer) is satisfied, the MPU 110 controls the power supply control unit 111. And shut off the power supply to each part. In this state, when data input or instruction input is made from any of the RTC 150, FAX 140, LANC 190, and button 410, the power control unit 111 detects this and requests the MPU 110 to resume power supply to the entire apparatus. To do. Thereby, the MPU 110 controls the power control unit 111 and supplies power to each unit.

  Next, when a job and information describing the execution time of the job are input as a set to the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, a flowchart of the process is shown for the process performed by the image processing apparatus. This will be described below with reference to FIG. Note that a program and data for causing the MPU 110 to execute processing according to the flowchart of FIG. The program and data are loaded into the RAM 160 as appropriate under the control of the MPU 110. The MPU 110 executes processing using the loaded program and data, so that the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment executes each processing described below.

  When the operator of the apparatus sets “scanning at specified time” or “printing at specified time” on the liquid crystal touch panel 400, the specified time is set in step S1000. And the specified processing (job) as a set and registered in the job table.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the job table.

  In the figure, “JOB-ID” is information unique to a job. In step S1000, when a job is registered, an ID (JOB-ID) unique to the registered job is issued, and the issued ID is registered in the “JOB-ID” column as shown in FIG.

  The “execution time” is the time information. In step S1000, the time information is registered in the “execution time” field as shown in FIG.

  “JOB type” indicates the type of job. In step S1000, when registering a job, the type of registered job is determined, and the determined type of job is registered in the “JOB type” column as shown in FIG. Since the determination of the job type is a well-known technique, a description thereof will be omitted.

  The “return time” is the operation when the device used in executing the job (in this embodiment, any one of the scanner 200, the printer 300, the FAX 140, and the LANC 190) is in a power-off state and supplies power to this device. It is the timing to make it possible. Registration of information to “return time” is performed in step S1001 described later.

  The job table shown in the figure is stored in the RAM 160 as data.

  Returning to FIG. 6, next, in step S1001, first, referring to the required time table shown in FIG. 4, operation is performed from a state in which the power of the apparatus used when executing the job registered in the job table in step S1000 is shut off. Identify how long it takes to transition to a possible state.

  FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of a table in which time (recovery time) required for shifting from a state where the power of the apparatus used when executing the job is shut down to an operable state is shown for each type of job. FIG. Each time registered in the table shown in the figure is measured in advance, and the table in the figure is created in advance by this measurement and registered in the hard disk device 500.

  For example, when the job type is “FAX transmission”, it is necessary to use the FAX 140 in order to execute this job. With reference to the table of FIG. 4, the time required to shift from the state where the power supply of the FAX 140 is turned off to the operable state is 2 minutes. On the other hand, when the type of job is “print”, it is necessary to use the printer 300 to execute this job. With reference to the table of FIG. 4, the time required to shift from the state where the power of the printer 300 is shut off to the operable state is 5 minutes. As described above, referring to the table shown in FIG. 4, according to the type of job, the time required for the apparatus used when executing the job to move from the power-off state to the operable state can be calculated. Can be identified.

  Next, in step S1001, the return time is obtained by subtracting the time specified using the table of FIG. 4 from the time indicated by the time information registered in the job table in step S1000. Then, the obtained return time is registered in the “return time” column in the job table shown in FIG.

  According to the processing in steps S1000 and S1001, the received job ID, execution time, type, and return time of the apparatus used when executing this job can be registered in the job table in association with each other. For example, referring to the table of FIG. 3, the execution time of the job with JOB-ID = 1 is “1:00”, the type of this job is “FAX transmission”, and the return time of the FAX 140 is “0:58”. I understand that there is.

  Next, in step S1002, a job queue is created in which the jobs registered in the job table of FIG. 3 are rearranged in descending order of return time. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a job queue in which jobs registered in the job table of FIG. 3 are rearranged in order of return time. If a job queue has already been created, the jobs in the job queue are rearranged again in step S1002. In this way, the execution order of the received jobs is determined in the order from the earliest return time.

  Next, processing for cutting off power supply to each unit when a predetermined condition is satisfied will be described below with reference to FIG. 7 showing a flowchart of the processing. Note that a program and data for causing the MPU 110 to execute processing according to the flowchart of FIG. The program and data are loaded into the RAM 160 as appropriate under the control of the MPU 110. The MPU 110 executes processing using the loaded program and data, so that the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment executes each processing described below.

  First, in step S1101, it is checked whether or not to interrupt power supply to each unit. For example, when information or instructions are not input to the apparatus continuously for a predetermined time or more, or when an instruction to cut off power supply to each unit is input via the liquid crystal touch panel 400, It is determined that the power supply to each part is cut off.

  If it is determined that the power supply to each unit is cut off, the process proceeds to step S1102. In step S1102, the return time of the job (the job with the earliest return time) arranged at the head of the job queue is set in the RTC 150 as an alarm time. In the above example, “0:56” is set in the RTC 150 as the alarm time.

  In step S <b> 1103, data (setting data and the like) related to each unit that shuts off the power is saved in the RAM 160.

  In step S1104, when power supply to each unit is resumed, 1 is set in the flag to indicate that the state after the restart is different from the normal power-on state. This flag is assumed to be 0 by default.

  In step S1105, the contents of the register of the MPU 110 are saved in the RAM 160.

  In step S1106, the RAM 160 is set so as to shift to a mode in which the content is held by itself.

  In step S1107, the power control unit 111 is controlled to cut off the power supply to each unit.

  In this way, the power supply to each unit is cut off. After this processing, when the current time reaches the alarm time set in the RTC 150, the processing performed by the image processing apparatus is a flowchart of the processing. This will be described below with reference to FIG. Note that a program and data for causing the MPU 110 to execute processing according to the flowchart of FIG. The program and data are loaded into the RAM 160 as appropriate under the control of the MPU 110. The MPU 110 executes processing using the loaded program and data, so that the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment executes each processing described below.

  Note that the processing described below is not based on the premise that the power of all the devices included in the image processing apparatus is shut off, but at least the power of the device that executes the job to be executed is determined. Any premise that it is blocked is sufficient.

  As described above, even if the power supply to each unit is cut off, the RTC 150 operates with the secondary power supply that it has, and keeps the current time. Therefore, when the current time being measured reaches the alarm time set in the RTC 150 in step S1102, the RTC 150 notifies the power control unit 111 of a signal. As described above, this signal indicates that the current time has reached the alarm time. And the process after step S1201 demonstrated below is performed.

  In step S1201, the RAM 160 is set so that the contents held by itself can be read and written.

  In step S1202, the flag (sleep flag) set in step S1104 is checked. If the flag is 0, the process ends to perform normal activation. If the flag is 1, the process proceeds to step S1203.

  In step S1203, the contents of the register of the MPU 110 saved in the RAM 160 are restored.

  In step S1204, the data related to each unit that shuts off the power, saved in the RAM 160, is read and reset to the corresponding unit.

  In step S1205, the current time being measured by the RTC 150 is acquired. In step S1206, the job table is referenced to check whether there is a return time that has reached the current time among the return times registered in the job table. As a result, if there is a return time registered in the job table that has reached the current time, the process advances to step S1207.

  In step S1207, power is supplied to an apparatus (any one of the scanner 200, the printer 300, the FAX 140, and the LANC 190 in FIG. 1) used to process a job registered in the job table in association with the return time when the current time has reached. At the same time, the apparatus is operated to execute this job.

  Taking the table shown in FIG. 3 as an example, the current time first reaches the return time “0:56”. Therefore, when the current time reaches “0:56”, the type of the job corresponding to the return time (job with JOB-ID = 2) is “print”, and thus power supply to the printer 300 is started, The printer 300 is caused to execute this job. Next, the current time reaches the return time “0:58”. Therefore, when the current time reaches “0:58”, the type of job corresponding to the return time (job with JOB-ID = 1) is “FAX transmission”, so that power supply to the FAX 140 is started, Causes the FAX 140 to execute this job.

  That is, the jobs are executed in the order registered in the job queue (in order of the return time). That is, power supply and operation are performed for the apparatus that processes the job sequentially from the head of the job queue at the return time corresponding to the job.

  Up to now, regardless of the type of job that is the first time-specified job, consider the return time of the job that requires the most return time among all jobs so that this job can be executed at the specified time. And set the return time. Therefore, it takes a long time until the job is actually executed, and power is consumed accordingly.

  However, according to this embodiment, since the return time of each device is set for each job in consideration of the return time of the device that processes the job, the time until job execution can be minimized. As a result, more efficient power consumption reduction can be realized.

  Note that the hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus is not limited to that shown in FIG. 1, and modifications may be considered as appropriate.

  In the present embodiment, when the current time reaches the return time, the power supply and operation of the apparatus used to execute the job corresponding to the return time are started. However, the method of determining the timing for supplying power and operating the apparatus is not limited to this, and various determination methods are conceivable using the current time and the return time.

  Needless to say, the object of the present invention can be achieved as follows. That is, a recording medium (or storage medium) that records a program code of software that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus. Then, the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the recording medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the recording medium on which the program code is recorded constitutes the present invention.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, an operating system (OS) or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the process includes the case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized.

  Furthermore, it is assumed that the program code read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. After that, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU included in the function expansion card or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing. Needless to say.

  When the present invention is applied to the recording medium, program code corresponding to the flowchart described above is stored in the recording medium.

It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the power supply control part 111 provided in MPU110, and the peripheral part connected to this. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a job table. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the table which described the time (recovery time) required until it transfers to the state which can operate | move from the state by which the power supply of the apparatus used when performing the job was cut | disconnected for every kind of job. . FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a job queue in which jobs registered in the job table in FIG. 3 are rearranged in order of return time. 6 is a flowchart of processing performed by an image processing apparatus when a job and information describing the execution time of the job are input as a set to the image processing apparatus. It is a flowchart of the process for interrupting | blocking the power supply to each part, when predetermined conditions are satisfy | filled. 6 is a flowchart of processing performed by the image processing apparatus when the current time reaches an alarm time set in the RTC 150 after power supply to each unit is interrupted.

Claims (6)

An image processing apparatus having a plurality of processing units provided according to the type of job to be executed, and capable of individually controlling the power of each processing unit,
For each of the plurality of processing means, holding means for holding required time information indicating a required time required to shift from a power-off state to an operable state;
A receiving means for receiving a job and time information in which the time of execution of the job is recorded;
Calculating means for obtaining a return time for the job by subtracting the time required for the processing means used for processing the job received by the receiving means from the time information received by the receiving means as a set with the job; ,
A time measuring means for measuring the current time;
When the power of the processing means used to process the job received by at least the receiving means among the plurality of processing means is in a cut-off state, the return time calculated by the calculating means for the job, and the time measuring means And a control means for supplying power to the processing means used for processing the job at a timing based on the current time measured by the processing means and causing the processing means to execute the processing of the job. An image processing apparatus.   The plurality of processing means includes image forming means for recording an image on a recording medium, reading means for reading an image recorded on the recording medium, and FAX means for transmitting and receiving information using FAX. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The control means includes
When the current time measured by the time measuring means reaches the return time calculated by the calculating means for the job received by the receiving means, power is supplied to the processing means used to process the job, and The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to execute processing of the job. A control method for an image processing apparatus having a plurality of processing means provided according to the type of job to be executed and capable of individually controlling the power supply of each processing means,
For each of the plurality of processing means, a holding step for holding in the memory the required time information that describes the required time required to shift from a power-off state to an operable state;
A receiving step for receiving a set of time information in which a job and a time at which the job is to be executed are set; and
A calculation step for obtaining a return time for the job by subtracting a time required for processing means used for processing the job received in the reception step from the time information received in the reception step as a set with the job; ,
A timekeeping process that measures the current time;
If the processing means used to process at least the job received in the receiving step among the plurality of processing means is in a power-off state, the return time calculated in the calculation step for the job, and the time measuring step And a control step for supplying power to the processing means used for processing the job at a timing based on the current time measured in step (b) and causing the processing means to execute processing of the job. For controlling an image processing apparatus.   A program for causing a computer to execute the control method according to claim 4.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 5.

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