JP2011113262A - System and apparatus for forming image - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display a print condition setting screen for urging a user to select print conditions to increase energy saving effects when the user designates the print conditions when requesting printing. <P>SOLUTION: When three types of choices of the monochrome, gray scale, and color of "color/monochrome" 53 are displayed on a print condition setting screen, the choices are displayed in the order of small power consumption, or the choices are displayed with different background colors so that the order of the choices with a small power consumption can be recognized. Also, the sizes of the display characters of the choices may be changed in the order of small power consumption. Furthermore, the choices are displayed such that the size of the radio box of the choice with the smallest power consumption is maximized, and that the sizes of the radio boxes of the choices are gradually made smaller according as the power consumption becomes large. Also, an energy saving indicator 56 for clarifying how small the power consumption is in printing under the selected print conditions with the amounts of scales is also displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

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

When printing from a personal computer (PC) to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, copier, or multifunction machine, instead of single-sided printing, double-sided printing or aggregate printing (for example, 2-in-1 printing) However, power consumption is generally low.
Thus, the power consumption necessary for printing varies depending on the printing conditions specified by the user, and the power consumption increases or decreases depending on the printing conditions.
Therefore, when printing is performed by the user, the power consumption under the printing conditions specified by the user and the predicted value of the power consumption when printing under printing conditions different from those specified by the user are obtained and notified. A technique of prompting the user to set power consumption under each print condition to prompt the user to set a print condition with less power consumption, resulting in energy saving (abbreviated as “energy saving”) (for example, Patent Document 1). Already known).

For example, when the user requests single-sided printing as a printing condition, the power consumption when executing single-sided printing as specified by the user and the power consumption when executing double-sided printing with printing conditions different from the user-specified Then, a predicted value such as power consumption in the case of executing aggregate printing is obtained and notified to the user.
According to such a notification function, after requesting single-sided printing, for example, a user who knows that double-sided printing or consolidated printing consumes less power than the above notification changes the printing conditions to double-sided printing or consolidated printing. There is a possibility of printing, and as a result, it can contribute to energy saving.

However, in the conventional technology as described above, the expected power consumption is known only after the user specifies the printing conditions such as the paper size and color / monochrome, and the power consumption before the user specifies the printing conditions. There is a problem that it is not possible to prompt the user to select a printing condition with less.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to guide a user to set printing conditions that reduce power consumption for printing.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming system including an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a printing condition in the image forming apparatus. Based on the print power consumption information acquired by the print power consumption information acquisition means for acquiring the print power consumption information indicating the power consumption required for each printing and the print power consumption information acquisition means, the print conditions are set in ascending order of the power consumption. Display control means for configuring and displaying an explicit print condition setting screen, and information for visually indicating the energy saving effect on the print condition selected on the print condition setting screen based on the print power consumption information There is provided an image forming system provided with means for performing the above.

Further, the information processing apparatus may be provided with means for configuring the print condition setting screen so that a print condition smaller than a preset font size cannot be selected.
Further, the information processing apparatus may be provided with means for configuring the print condition setting screen so that a print condition that causes power consumption exceeding a preset upper limit value cannot be selected.

  Further, the print power consumption information acquisition unit that acquires the print power consumption information indicating the power consumption required for printing for each print condition, and the low power consumption based on the print power consumption information acquired by the print power consumption information acquisition unit Display control means that configures and displays a print condition setting screen in which the print conditions are specified in order and the print conditions selected on the print condition setting screen are visually clarified based on the print power consumption information. Provided is an image forming apparatus provided with means for displaying information to be displayed.

Furthermore, it is preferable to provide means for configuring the print condition setting screen in such a manner that a print condition smaller than a preset font size cannot be selected.
In addition, it is preferable to provide means for configuring the print condition setting screen so that it is not possible to select a print condition that results in power consumption exceeding a preset upper limit value.

  The image forming system and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can guide the user to set printing conditions that reduce power consumption for printing.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows the process sequence at the time of the control part of PC shown in FIG. 1 displaying a printing condition setting screen. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a display processing procedure performed when the control unit of the PC illustrated in FIG. 1 changes a printing condition for a printing condition setting screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the content of the power consumption table referred at the time of the structure of a printing condition setting screen.

It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the scale of the energy saving indicator in a printing condition setting screen. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print condition setting screen displayed on the PC or the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example when the printing conditions of the printing condition setting screen displayed on the PC or the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 are changed. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another display example when the printing condition on the printing condition setting screen displayed on the PC or the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is changed.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing still another display example when the printing condition on the printing condition setting screen displayed on the PC or the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is changed. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing still another display example when the printing condition on the printing condition setting screen displayed on the PC or the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is changed. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of a print condition setting screen displayed on the PC or the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating still another example of a printing condition setting screen displayed in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
〔Example〕
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In this image forming system, a plurality of personal computers (hereinafter abbreviated as “PC”) 1 and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 2 are connected to a network 3, and each PC 1 is connected to each image forming apparatus via the network 3. 2 can be requested to print.
In the figure, one PC 1 and one image forming apparatus 2 on the network 3 are shown, and the others are not shown. In addition, a server device that distributes a print request from each PC 1 to each image forming apparatus 2 may be provided on the network 3.

The PC 1 is an information processing apparatus and is realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM. The PC 1 controls the entire PC 1 and performs the functions of each unit according to the present invention. An input unit 11 for inputting information, a printing condition setting screen according to the present invention, a display unit 12 for displaying various information including a screen for visually indicating an energy saving effect, and image formation with other PCs via the network 3 A network interface card (NIC) 13 that controls data exchange with the apparatus 2 is provided.
The image forming apparatus 2 is a multifunction machine having a printer, a copying machine, a printing function, a copying function, a printer function, and a communication function (facsimile communication, Internet communication, etc.), a system management unit 20, an engine unit unit 30, a power supply unit. The unit 40 is configured.

The system management unit 20 includes a controller 21 realized by a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and an operation display unit 22 that inputs various types of operation information and displays various types of information. The controller 21 controls the entire image forming apparatus 2.
The engine unit section 30 includes a scanner section 31 that reads an image of a document and a printer section 32 that performs printing. The printer section 32 includes a fixing unit 33 that fixes toner on a sheet.
Further, the power supply unit 40 is connected to a commercial power outlet, converts an alternating current into a direct current and supplies it to each part of the image forming apparatus 2, and a heater drive unit that controls the driving of the fixing unit 33. 42.

In this image forming system, a user issues a print request from the PC 1 to the controller 21 of the image forming apparatus 2 via the network 3 and performs printing by sending print conditions and print data.
The printing request is issued by executing a printer driver program (abbreviated as “printer driver”) installed in advance in the control unit 10 of the PC 1.
In the printer driver processing, a print condition setting screen for setting print conditions including aggregated printing such as paper size, single-sided and double-sided, and 2-in-1 is displayed, and radio buttons and drop-down lists displayed on the print condition setting screen are displayed. In addition, the user can set the printing conditions by visually notifying the energy saving effect for each selected printing condition.
In the image forming apparatus 2, the controller 21 of the system management unit 20 is connected to the network 3 via a NIC (not shown), and can receive and print a print request, print conditions, and print data from the PC 1.

  In the image forming system according to this embodiment, when the user performs printing with the image forming apparatus 2 from the PC 1, when the user designates the printing conditions, the processing when the user selects one item from a plurality of options is performed. In other words, the printing condition setting screen used when specifying various printing conditions such as the paper size, the user has a list of printing conditions with less power consumption (watt: W) or power consumption (watt hour: Wh). Since the buttons, radio buttons, list boxes, etc. can be arranged and displayed with the layout, size, color scheme, etc., the user can select printing conditions that consume less power or less power. In addition, when the user selects a printing condition that consumes less power or less power, it has a function to express a visual effect reminiscent of energy saving. Going on. Note that power consumption = power consumption × time.

Next, display processing of the print condition setting screen in the PC 1 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the control unit 10 of the PC 1 shown in FIG. 1 displays a printing condition setting screen.
When the control unit 10 accepts an input of a print request to the image forming apparatus 2 in step (indicated by “S” in the figure) 1, the process proceeds to step 2.
The print request is input by pressing a button or the like when the user prints using a printer driver.
In step 2, the printer driver is operated to acquire various types of information including paper size information and status information from the image forming apparatus 2. Further, a power consumption table stored in advance in the image forming apparatus 2 or the PC 1 is acquired, and the process proceeds to Step 3.
The function realized by the processing in step 2 corresponds to a printing power consumption information acquisition unit.

The power consumption table is print power consumption information (power consumption or power consumption) indicating the power consumption required for printing for each printing condition (including a plurality of combinations) in the image forming apparatus 2. In the following description of the processing procedure, the case where the power consumption is used will be described.
In step 3, a plurality of options among the setting items of various printing conditions are sorted using the power consumption table in ascending order of power consumption, and the process proceeds to step 4.
In step 4, for a plurality of options, a print condition setting screen is provided that includes arrangements, color schemes, and decorations of radio buttons, drop-down lists, etc. so that the order of decreasing power consumption or the order of increasing power consumption can be understood at a glance. Go to step 5.

It is also possible to make it impossible to select a print condition that is smaller than a preset font size during the processing of the configuration of the print condition setting screen.
Further, when processing the configuration of the print condition setting screen, it is possible to make it impossible to select a print condition that results in power consumption exceeding a preset upper limit value.
The function realized by the processing in steps 3 and 4 constitutes a printing condition setting screen in which printing conditions are specified in ascending order of power consumption based on the printing power consumption information acquired by the printing power consumption information acquisition unit. Means, means for configuring the above-described print condition setting screen so that a print condition lower than a preset font size cannot be selected, and a print condition that causes power consumption or power consumption exceeding a preset upper limit value cannot be selected. It fulfills the function of means for configuring the printing condition setting screen.

In step 5, the printing condition with the largest power consumption, the printing condition with the smallest power consumption, and the power consumption under the default printing condition are retrieved and obtained from the power consumption table, and the printing condition is determined according to the obtained value. Configure an energy saving indicator in the setting screen and go to step 6.
The function realized by the processing of step 5 functions as a means for displaying information that visually indicates the energy saving effect based on the print power consumption information for the print condition selected on the print condition setting screen.
In step 6, the background color of the selection item in the print condition setting screen corresponding to the power consumption amount in the default print condition is determined, and the process proceeds to step 7.
In step 7, the above-described print condition setting screen is displayed on the display unit, and this process is terminated.

The function realized by the processing in step 7 corresponds to display control means for displaying a print condition setting screen.
In this way, the print condition setting screen is dynamically configured based on the acquired value of the power consumption table.
In addition, when the print condition setting screen is displayed for the first time by the above processing, preset default print conditions are selected as various print conditions.
Furthermore, the energy-saving indicator is configured according to the power consumption amount in the default condition, and the background color of the print condition setting screen is determined, but what kind of background color is used depends on the length of the energy-saving indicator. The color may be determined in advance and the color may be selected from the length of the newly constructed indicator.
In the above-described processing, the processing when power consumption is used has been described. However, even when power consumption is used, the same processing as described above can be performed.

Next, display processing performed when the printing conditions are changed on the printing condition setting screen will be described.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a display processing procedure performed when the control unit 10 of the PC 1 shown in FIG. 1 changes the printing condition on the printing condition setting screen.
In the description of this processing procedure, the case where the power consumption is used as described above will be described.
In step 11, the control unit 10 waits for an input from the user on the print condition setting screen and proceeds to step 12.
In step 12, it is determined whether or not the OK button on the print condition setting screen has been pressed. If it is determined that the button has been pressed, the print condition setting screen is hidden and the process proceeds to step 17; Proceed to

In step 13, it is determined whether or not the cancel button of the print condition setting screen has been pressed. If it is determined that the button has been pressed, the print condition setting screen is hidden, the process ends, and if it is determined that the cancel button has not been pressed, Proceed to step 14.
In step 14, if there is a change in the content of the print condition in the print condition setting screen, the necessary power consumption is obtained with the changed content by referring to the power consumption table, and the process proceeds to step 15.
In step 15, an energy saving indicator corresponding to the calculated required power consumption is displayed, and the process proceeds to step 16.

In step 16, the background color is changed according to the length of the energy saving indicator, and the process proceeds to step 17.
In step 17, the contents of the printing conditions set by the user are saved, and this process ends.
The stored printing conditions are sent to the image forming apparatus 2 together with print data.
In this process, when waiting for input in step 11, it is impossible to select a print condition that is smaller than a preset font size on the print condition setting screen.
Furthermore, it is also made impossible to select a printing condition that results in power consumption exceeding a preset upper limit value.
After the above process, the process returns to the process of waiting for an input from the user on the print condition setting screen.

Next, the contents of the power consumption table described above will be described.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the contents of the power consumption table.
FIG. 4 shows a part of the contents of the power consumption table that holds the power consumption required for one printing in each combination of printing conditions.
The control unit 10 of the PC 1 requests and acquires a power consumption table as shown in FIG. 4 from the image forming apparatus 2 that is a print request destination before displaying the print condition setting screen by executing the printer driver.
This power consumption table may be statically stored in advance on the PC 1 in which the printer driver is installed. In that case, the control unit 10 reads out and obtains the power consumption table held in the memory in the device itself.
Although the power consumption table shown in FIG. 4 shows the case where the power consumption is used, the power consumption can be implemented even when the power consumption is used.

The value of the power consumption amount in the power consumption table is the same as the power consumed from when printing is accepted when the status of the image forming apparatus 2 is in the normal state to when the printing is completed and returned to the normal state. This is the difference from the power consumed in the normal time state.
Further, since the power consumption required for printing after returning from the sleep state needs to add the return power, the return power is also held in the power consumption table.
If the power consumption table shown in FIG. 4 is used, the control unit 10 of the PC 1 can configure and display a print condition setting screen that guides the user to select a print condition with less power consumption.
For example, in the print condition setting screen, “A4” is set as “paper size”, “no aggregation” is set as “finishing”, “single side” is set as “single side / double side”, and “color” is set as “color”. A case where “monochrome” is selected as the setting content of “/ monochrome” will be described.

Paying attention to the setting contents of “Color / Monochrome”, under the printing conditions of “A4”, “No aggregation”, and “One side”, the power consumption is 1 Wh for “Monochrome” and 2 Wh for “Grayscale”. It can be seen that if the amount of power is “color”, 4 Wh of power consumption is required.
That is, it can be seen that among the setting contents of “Color / Monochrome”, “Monochrome” has the lowest power consumption, and “Color” has the highest power consumption.
If this is known, it is possible to display such that the user is prompted to select “monochrome”.
When attention is paid to items other than the “color / monochrome” setting, for example, the setting content of “paper size”, it is possible to acquire the power consumption for each paper size under the printing conditions of “no aggregation”, “one side”, and “monochrome”. Is possible.
The same applies to the setting contents of “finish” and the setting contents of “single side / double side”.

Next, the expansion and contraction of the energy saving indicator is as follows.
For example, 4Wh is the power consumption required for printing under the currently set printing conditions, 1Wh is the power consumption required for printing under the combination of printing conditions with the least power consumption, and the combination with the highest power consumption. A case where the power consumption required for printing under the printing conditions of 10 Wh is described.
In this case, the scale in the energy saving indicator should be maximized when the printing condition requires 1 Wh of power consumption, and the scale within the energy saving indicator should be minimized when the printing condition requires 10 Wh of power consumption. For this reason, it is only necessary to display the energy saving indicator as shown in FIG. 5 under the currently set printing conditions.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the scale of the energy saving indicator.
(A) of FIG. 5 is a display example when the power consumption required for printing is 1 Wh, that is, a display example under a combination of printing conditions with the least power consumption, and a scale is shown in the frame of the energy saving indicator. Full display.
FIG. 5B is a display example in the case where the power consumption required for printing is 10 Wh, that is, a display example in the printing condition of the combination having the largest power consumption, and within the frame of the energy saving indicator. The scale is not displayed.
Further, FIG. 5C is a display example when the power consumption required for printing is 4 Wh, and the scale is displayed up to 2/3 of the energy saving indicator frame.
Regarding the display of the scale of this energy saving indicator, xWh when the power consumption is the lowest, yWh when the power consumption is the highest, and the power consumption zWh when the current setting is required (x ≦ z ≦ y), from the left What is necessary is just to display the scale in an energy-saving indicator to the position of (yz) / (yx).

Next, the above-described printing condition setting screen can be displayed on the image forming apparatus 2 in the same manner.
The operation display unit 22 of the image forming apparatus 2 has a touch panel and keys. By operating them, the controller 21 can read the image from the scanner unit 31 and request the controller 21 to print the image.
In this case, a printer driver similar to that described above is installed in the controller 21 of the system management unit 20 of the image forming apparatus 2, and the controller 21 executes the printer driver, thereby fulfilling the functions of the respective means similar to those described above.
Then, the controller 21 displays a printing condition setting screen for setting printing conditions including aggregated printing such as paper size, single-sided and double-sided, and 2-in-1 on the display unit screen of the operation display unit 22 as in the case of the printer driver. The user can set printing conditions by pressing a button or the like. The print request can also be issued from the operation display unit 22.

Next, a display example of the print condition setting screen will be described.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a print condition setting screen displayed on the PC 1 or the image forming apparatus 2 shown in FIG.
The print condition setting screen is a print condition setting screen displayed on the screen of the display unit 12 by the process of the printer driver when the user performs printing from the PC 1 or a printer when the user performs printing in the image forming apparatus 2. It is an example of a printing condition setting screen displayed on the screen of the operation display unit 22 by processing of the driver.
The printer driver acquires a power consumption table before displaying the print condition setting screen, and configures and displays the print condition setting screen based on the power consumption table.

Regarding the printing conditions on the printing condition setting screen, each item column of “printer name” 50, “paper size” 52 and “finishing” 55 displays a drop-down list, and a plurality of options displayed in the list are displayed. Each item column of “color / monochrome” 53 and “double-sided / single-sided” 54 is selected with a radio button.
The name of the image forming apparatus or printer that can be selected as the print request destination on the network 3 is displayed in a list in the “Printer Name” 50 drop-down list. Select a name.
The “status” 51 includes information indicating the current state of the image forming apparatus or printer whose name is selected from the drop-down list of the “printer name” 50 (for example, ready state, energy saving mode, etc.). Is displayed.

In the “paper size” 52 drop-down list, printable paper size types supported by the image forming apparatus or printer whose name is selected from the “printer name” 50 drop-down list are displayed. So, select the paper size for printing from the list. For example, A3, A4, B4, B5, etc.
When displaying the options, the options may be displayed in the order of the options with the least power consumption, or the options may be displayed in different background colors so that the order of the power consumption is as low as possible. For the display, the option with the least power consumption may be blinked.
In addition, the size of the display characters of the options may be changed in the order of decreasing power consumption.
As described above, the display mode of each option of the printing condition is preferably set to a shape, display color, arrangement position, etc., that makes it easy for the user to select an item that consumes less power during printing.
In this way, if the display mode of each option of the printing condition is displayed conspicuously from the one with less power consumption at the time of printing, the user can be made aware of the option with less power consumption, It is possible to guide the user to select an option that consumes less power during printing.
“Color / monochrome” 53 displays three types of options, monochrome, grayscale, and color, but the image forming apparatus or printer whose name is selected from the drop-down list of “printer name” 50 is not color-compatible. In this case, only two types of options, gray scale and monochrome, are displayed. For this selection, for example, when monochrome is selected, a radio box before monochrome is checked.

As for the display of this option, it is preferable that the display order, the background color of display, and the size of display characters are changed as described above.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, it is preferable to maximize the size of the option radio box with the least power consumption, and to gradually reduce the size of the option radio box as the power consumption increases.

The “Double-sided / single-sided” 54 radio box displays two-sided and single-sided options, but the image forming apparatus or printer selected from the “Printer name” 50 drop-down list cannot perform duplex printing. Only one side is displayed. For this selection, for example, when both sides are selected, a radio box in front of both sides is checked.
As for the display of the “double-sided / single-sided” 54 options, the display order, the background color of the display, and the size of display characters may be changed as described above. The display size of the option radio box may be changed.

The drop-down list for “Finishing” 55 displays a list of types of aggregation modes supported by the image forming apparatus or printer with the name selected in the drop-down list for “Printer name” 50. Select the type of aggregation mode when printing. For example, no aggregation, 2 in 1 or the like.
As for the display of the “finish” 55 options, the display order, the background color of the display, and the size of the display characters may be changed and displayed as described above.

"Printer name" 50, "Paper size" 52, "Finishing" 55 in each item column drop down list, "Color / monochrome" 53, "Double side / single side" 54 in each item column You can select only one of each radio box option.
In the print condition setting screen shown in FIG. 6, “Printer name” 50 is “RXXXH XXX”, “Paper size” 52 is “A4”, “Color / monochrome” 53 is “Monochrome”, “Double-sided / single-sided”. "54" represents a state where "one side" is selected, and "finishing" 55 represents a state where "no aggregation" 60 is selected.

The display content of “status” 51 indicates that the image forming apparatus or printer having the name designated by “printer name” 50 in FIG. 6, that is, the image forming apparatus or printer designated as the print request destination is in the “ready” state. This varies depending on the state of the image forming apparatus or the printer. For this purpose, the control unit 10 of the PC 1 performs processing for periodically inquiring and displaying the status of the image forming apparatus or printer designated as the print request destination. In the case of the image forming apparatus 2, the controller 21 checks and displays the state of the own apparatus.
On the upper right side of the print condition setting screen, a button 57 “set to eco print condition” is arranged.

When the button 57 is pressed, the control unit 10 of the PC 1 or the controller 21 of the image forming apparatus 2 prints the printing conditions of “paper size” 52, “color / monochrome” 53, “double-sided / single-sided” 54, and “finish” 55. The contents of the options of each printing condition are automatically changed so that the combination of the options with the least power consumption is selected.
Below the print condition setting screen, an energy saving indicator 56 whose scale length extends according to the amount of power consumption required for printing under the selected print condition is displayed.
The scale in the energy saving indicator 56 can clearly show the energy saving effect corresponding to the amount of power consumption when printing under the printing conditions selected for the user. In this case, the low power consumption is clearly shown as an energy saving effect.
The scale in the energy saving indicator 56 is expanded to the right when the printing condition with low power consumption is selected according to the selection contents of the drop-down list or radio box, and the printing condition with high power consumption is selected. If it is set, the scale is reduced and displayed in the left direction.

That is, the more the scale is extended in the right direction, the less power consumption is required for printing, and the smaller the scale is in the left direction, the more power consumption is required for printing. To express.
Therefore, the user can perform the operation of setting the printing conditions so that the amount of power consumption is reduced, using the scale in the energy saving indicator 56 as a guide.
For example, it is possible to reduce power consumption during printing by selecting a print condition that is unnecessary at the time of printing by selecting one that consumes the least amount of power.
There are an “OK” button 58 and a “Cancel” button 59 at the lower right of the print condition setting screen. When the “OK” button 58 is pressed, the contents of the set print conditions are confirmed, and the contents of the print conditions are displayed. If the “Cancel” button 59 is pressed, the set printing conditions are canceled.

Next, a display example when the print condition setting screen is changed is described.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example when the printing conditions of the printing condition setting screen displayed on the PC 1 or the image forming apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 1 are changed.
The print condition setting screen shown in FIG. 7 shows the state when the “finishing” 55 drop-down list is clicked and expanded. In the drop-down list, “no aggregation” 60 and “2 pages into one page” are shown. The four options of “Aggregate (2 in 1)” 61, “Aggregate 4 pages into 1 page (4 in 1)” 62, and “Aggregate 9 pages into 1 page (9 in 1)” 63 are displayed and can be selected. ing.
Each of the above options is displayed with a different background color according to the power consumption required for printing under the printing conditions.

For example, the small amount of power consumption required is “aggregate 9 pages into 1 page” 63, “aggregate 4 pages into 1 page” 62, “aggregate 2 pages into 1 page” 61, “no aggregation” 60 In this order, the background color of “9 pages into one page” 63 is dark green, the background color of “4 pages into one page” 62 is yellow-green, and “2 pages are into one page” “61” is displayed in yellow and “No aggregation” 60 is displayed in red. As a result, “Aggregate 9 pages into 1 page” 63 has the lowest power consumption for the user. It can be visually appealed that “None” 60 is the option with the highest power consumption.
In this way, the user can easily identify at a glance which of the four options is the printing condition with the least power consumption by the difference in display color.

Then, the user can be prompted to select a printing condition option that consumes the least amount of power according to the visual effect.
Also, the “paper size” 52 drop-down list is displayed with different display colors for each amount of power consumption, as in the above-mentioned “finishing” 55 drop-down list, and the display color is necessary for printing. Display with a background color according to the power consumption.
Next, there are three types of “color / monochrome” 53 of “monochrome”, “grayscale”, and “color”.
For example, if the power consumption required for each option is in the order of “Monochrome”, “Grayscale”, and “Color”, the background color of “Monochrome” will be green and the background color of “Grayscale” will be By displaying the background color of “color” in yellow and red, it is possible to visually appeal to users that “monochrome” has the least power consumption and “color” has the most power consumption. it can.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the size of the radio button to be checked to select “monochrome” is maximized, and the size of the radio button to select “color” is minimized to display. The user can be prompted to select “monochrome”.
In addition, with regard to “double-sided / single-sided” 54, it is possible to encourage the user to select printing condition options with low power consumption by adopting the same display mode as “color / monochrome” 53. .
In this way, it is possible to identify a printing condition option that allows the user to intuitively reduce the power consumption amount visually.
As a result, it is possible to guide the setting operation so that the user sets printing conditions with less power consumption and prints, and the energy saving effect during printing can be enhanced.

Next, the visual effect when the printing condition setting screen is set will be described.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another display example when the printing conditions on the printing condition setting screen displayed on the PC 1 or the image forming apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 1 are changed.
This print condition setting screen represents a screen when the option is changed from “no aggregation” 60 to “consolidate two pages into one page” 61 in the drop-down list of “finishing” 55.
If the power consumption required for printing is reduced as a result of changing the “finishing” 55 option from “no consolidation” 60 to “consolidation of two pages into one page” 61, The scale in the scale display field 64 of the energy saving indicator 56 is displayed by extending in the right direction in the figure.

As a result, the user can intuitively know how much power consumption can be saved by the printing conditions selected by the user.
In addition to extending the energy saving indicator 56 as described above, the background color of the print condition setting screen may be changed.
For example, when a printing condition with less power consumption is selected, changing the background color to a gradation closer to dark green or the like may cause the user to recognize that the energy saving effect has increased. it can.

On the other hand, when the user selects a printing condition with a larger amount of power consumption, the scale in the energy saving indicator 56 is reduced to the left in the figure, or the background color of the printing condition setting screen is set to yellow or red. If the color is changed to a color having a close gradation, it is possible to make the user strongly recognize that a printing condition with a larger amount of power consumption has been selected.
Further, even when the printing conditions of “paper size” 52, “color / monochrome” 53, and “double-sided / single-sided” 54 are changed, the display mode is displayed in the same manner as in the case of “finishing” 55. Therefore, it is possible to intuitively notify the user that a printing condition with less power consumption has been selected and that a larger printing condition has been selected.

Next, the visual effect when the eco printing condition is set on the printing condition setting screen will be described.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another display example when the printing conditions on the printing condition setting screen displayed on the PC 1 or the image forming apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 1 are changed.
This print condition setting screen represents a screen when the “set to eco print condition” button 57 is pressed in the display content state of the print condition setting screen shown in FIG.
When the “Set Eco Print Conditions” button 57 is pressed, the power consumption is selected from the combinations of printing condition options of “paper size” 52, “color / monochrome” 53, “duplex / single side” 54, and “finish” 55. The options for each printing condition are automatically changed to a combination that minimizes the amount.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the display changes so that “double-sided / single-sided” 54 “double-sided” is selected, and “finishing” 55 “9 pages into one page” 63 is selected, The display in the scale display field 65 of the energy saving indicator 56 is changed to a state where the scale is extended to the maximum in the right direction.
The scale amount in the scale display field 65 of the energy saving indicator 56 informs that the print setting content has the highest energy saving effect.
This change process is executed by the printer driver process by the control unit 10 of the PC 1 or the controller 21 of the image forming apparatus 2.
In this way, the user first presses the “Set Eco Print Condition” button 57 to display a combination of print condition options that minimizes power consumption, and then selects each option for each print condition. By arbitrarily changing and adjusting, it is possible to increase the energy saving effect and efficiently perform the operation of changing the printing conditions so that the desired printing conditions are set.

Next, the visual effect when the image forming apparatus or the printer requested to be printed on the print condition setting screen is changed will be described.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing still another display example when the printing condition on the printing condition setting screen displayed on the PC 1 or the image forming apparatus 2 shown in FIG. 1 is changed.
In the print condition setting screen, in the display content state of the print condition setting screen shown in FIG. 8, the name of the print request destination is changed from “RXXXXH XXX” to “RXXXH YYY” in the “printer name” 50 drop-down list. Shows the screen when changed.
When the image forming apparatus or printer that is the print request destination is changed, the display content of the “status” 51 is automatically changed according to the state of the selected image forming apparatus or printer.

In FIG. 10, since the changed printer “RXXXH YYY” of the print request destination is in an energy saving state, information on “energy saving mode” is displayed in “status” 51.
When an image forming apparatus or printer in an energy saving state is to perform printing, it is necessary to return from the energy saving state, and more power is consumed than when an image forming apparatus or printer that is not in an energy saving state is to perform printing. Is required. This is because a process for returning from the energy saving state is necessary.

Therefore, in order to reduce the power consumption, it is preferable to use another image forming apparatus or printer that is not in the energy saving state when the image forming apparatus or printer that is the print request destination cannot print immediately, including during the energy saving state.
In order to inform the user intuitively through vision, as shown in FIG. 10, the longitudinal direction of the scale display field 66 for displaying the scale of the energy saving indicator 56 on the printing condition setting screen (direction in which the scale extends) is usually set. So that the display is shorter than the upper limit, so that the upper limit of the scale expansion amount is reduced.
In this way, no matter what printing conditions are selected for the user, the scale in the scale display field 65 of the energy saving indicator 56 does not expand rightward beyond a certain upper limit value. Thus, it is possible to easily inform that printing by the image forming apparatus or printer selected as the print request destination has a low energy saving effect.

Next, a description will be given of a print condition setting screen in which a print condition smaller than a preset font size cannot be selected.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of the print condition setting screen displayed on the PC 1 or the image forming apparatus 2 shown in FIG.
In this description, a display example of the print condition setting screen based on the power consumption table will be described. However, the display can be similarly performed based on the greenhouse gas emission amount table.
The print condition setting screen is a print condition setting screen displayed on the screen of the display unit 12 by the process of the printer driver when the user performs printing from the PC 1 or a printer when the user performs printing in the image forming apparatus 2. This is an example in which the printing condition setting screen displayed on the screen of the operation display unit 22 by the driver process cannot be selected with a printing condition smaller than a preset font size.

The printer driver process acquires a power consumption table before displaying this print condition setting screen, configures and displays the print condition setting screen based on the power consumption table, and print conditions that fall below the preset font size Control display so that cannot be selected.
In the print condition setting screen shown in FIG. 11, the case where the minimum font size “12” is set for the “minimum font” 67 is displayed. This is because the font size is at least 12 or more as a result of printing. It means to guarantee that.
The user can change the minimum font size to an arbitrary size, and depending on the value of the changed minimum font size, some of the printing condition options cannot be selected.
For example, with regard to the option of “finishing” 55, “combine 9 pages into one page” 63 cannot be selected.

Further, it is possible to make it impossible to select an option of “finishing” 55 such that the font size becomes equal to or smaller than the minimum font size designated by the user as a result of printing.
In this case, the size of the font as a result of printing is determined by sending the user's print request once to the image forming apparatus or printer, and the image forming apparatus or printer interprets the print request and sets the minimum font size. It is necessary to calculate.
That is, the image forming apparatus or printer receives the print request, but only performs translation, and needs to return the calculated minimum font size to the requesting PC 1.
In order to realize this, it is only necessary to include the acquisition request for the minimum font size in the PDL data that is the realization of the print request of the user.

First, before displaying the print condition setting screen, PDL data including a request for obtaining the minimum font size is created by processing of the printer driver, and a request is issued to the image forming apparatus or printer.
When the image forming apparatus or printer recognizes that there is an acquisition request item for the minimum font size in the PDL data, it performs translation only, acquires the minimum font size, and obtains the obtained minimum font size at the request source. Return to a printer driver. This process is performed for each of the “finishing” 55 options.

As a result, the printer driver can acquire the minimum font size for each option.
When the user changes the minimum font size, the “finishing” 55 is set so that the selection cannot be made such that the selection is smaller than the font size specified by the user by comparing with the minimum font size for each acquired option. Configure the choices displayed in the drop-down list.
Also, for other printing conditions, a printing condition setting screen configured to make it impossible to select printing condition options that are smaller than a font size designated in advance is displayed in the same manner as described above.

Next, an example of the print condition setting screen of the operation display unit 22 displayed when the user performs copying in the image forming apparatus 2 will be described.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a print condition setting screen displayed on the image forming apparatus 2 illustrated in FIG.
This print condition setting screen is an example of a print condition setting screen displayed on the screen when the user performs copying from the operation display unit 22 of the image forming apparatus 2.
The controller 21 acquires a power consumption table before displaying the printing condition setting screen on the operation display unit 22, and configures and displays the printing condition setting screen according to the power consumption table.

On this print condition setting screen, items of “status” 70, “paper size” 71, “color / monochrome” 72, “double-sided / single-sided” 73, and “finish” 74 are displayed, and “paper size” 71 , “Color / monochrome” 72, “Double-sided / single-sided” 73, and “Finishing” 74 are displayed with option buttons.
The “status” 70 displays information indicating the status of the image forming apparatus or printer that is the print request destination. In FIG. 12, information indicating the “ready” state is displayed.
In “paper size” 71, buttons corresponding to the paper size supported by the image forming apparatus or printer requested to be printed are displayed. In FIG. 12, buttons for selecting paper sizes B5, A4, B4, and A3 are displayed.

In FIG. 12, “color / monochrome” 72 includes a “monochrome” button for designating monochrome printing, a “grayscale” button for designating printing capable of gradation expression, and a “color” button for designating color printing. Is displayed.
If the image forming apparatus or printer is not color-compatible, only the “monochrome” button and the “grayscale” button are displayed.
In “Duplex / single-sided” 73, a “double-sided” button for designating double-sided printing and a “single-sided” button for designating single-sided printing are displayed in FIG.
If the image forming apparatus or printer cannot perform duplex printing, only the “single-sided” button is displayed.

In “Finishing” 74, a button indicating the type of aggregation mode supported by this image forming apparatus or printer is displayed. In FIG. 12, buttons 9 in 1, 4 in 1, 2 in 1 and no aggregation are displayed.
In the upper right of the screen, a “Set Eco Print Condition” button 76 is arranged.
When the button 76 is pressed, the combination of the items with the smallest amount of power consumption among the combinations of the items of “paper size” 71, “color / monochrome” 72, “double-sided / single-sided” 73, and “finishing” 74 is selected. Each button is automatically changed to the selected state.
Below the print condition setting screen, an energy saving indicator 75 whose scale length extends in accordance with the power consumption required for printing under the selected print condition is displayed.

The scale of the energy saving indicator 75 when the printing condition with low power consumption is selected by the respective buttons of the “paper size” 71, “color / monochrome” 72, “double side / single side” 73, and “finish” 74. Is expanded in the right direction in the figure, and when a printing condition with a large amount of power consumption is selected, the scale in the scale display column of the energy saving indicator 75 is reduced and displayed in the left direction in the figure.
That is, the more the scale in the scale display field of the energy saving indicator 75 is extended in the right direction, the less power consumption is required for printing, and the more the scale is reduced in the left direction, the more printing is performed. This means that the required power consumption is large.
There is an “OK” button 77 on the lower right side of the print condition setting screen. When the “OK” button 77 is pressed, the set print condition is fixed and held. If the “Cancel” button 78 is pressed, the set printing conditions are canceled.

Only one option can be selected for each of the items 71-74.
For example, when the “A4” button is pressed while “B5” is selected as the option of “paper size” 71, the selection of “B5” is released, and “A4” is indicated by hatching in the figure. Changes to the selected display state.
Further, in order to clearly indicate which option of each printing condition is selected, for example, means such as a display form expressing that the button of the selected option is pressed can be considered.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the background of the selected option button is displayed by dot drawing to indicate the selected state.

The print condition setting screen example shown in FIG. 12 shows a state in which each of the options “A4”, “color”, “single side”, and “2 in 1” is selected, as indicated by hatching in the drawing.
Further, by changing the display colors of the buttons of the respective options of “paper size” 71, “color / monochrome” 72, “double-sided / single-sided” 73, and “finishing” 74, printing with the least power consumption is possible. The printing conditions with the largest power consumption in order from the conditions may be displayed so as to be intuitively understood through vision.
For example, for the “paper size” 71, if the amount of required power consumption is “B5”, “A4”, “B4”, and “A3” in this order, the color of the “B5” button is dark green, If the color of the “A4” button is displayed in yellow-green, the color of the “B4” button is displayed in “yellow”, and the color of the “A3” button is displayed in red, the power consumption of each option can be changed by changing the display color. You can clearly show the difference between a large amount and a small amount.

Therefore, the user is informed that “B5” is the option with the least power consumption among the four options of “paper size” 71 and “B5” is the option with the least power consumption. Can be induced to select.
Further, the items “color / monochrome” 72, “double-sided / single-sided” 73, and “finish” 74 are also displayed in the same manner as the “paper size” 71 described above.
In this way, according to the printing condition setting screen for copying and printing displayed on the image forming apparatus 2, the display color is emphasized for the button for the printing condition option that reduces the power consumption of printing for the user. Thus, the display or large display induces the setting to a combination of printing conditions that reduce the power consumption of printing, so that the energy saving (power saving) effect of printing can be enhanced.

When the user selects each option and changes the printing conditions, the scale in the scale display field of the energy saving indicator 75 at the bottom of the screen is expanded or contracted according to the power consumption required for the printing.
First, when the printing conditions are changed and the power consumption is reduced as a result, the scale in the scale display field of the energy saving indicator 75 extends rightward.
Conversely, when the power consumption increases, the scale in the scale display field of the energy saving indicator 75 is reduced in the left direction.
In addition to expanding / contracting the scale in the scale display field of the energy saving indicator 75, the background color of the print condition setting screen may be changed.

For example, if a printing condition with less power consumption is selected, the background color is changed to a tone closer to dark green, and conversely if a printing condition with more power consumption is selected, the background color is yellow or red. It is better to change to a color with a gradation close to.
In this way, by providing a visual effect such as changing the energy saving indicator or the background color, the user can easily determine the energy saving effect due to the printing conditions selected by the user.
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the print condition setting screen that prompts the user to set the print condition with a small amount of power consumption has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly performed even when the power consumption is used.

  In the image forming system according to this embodiment, the printing condition setting screen displayed when setting various printing conditions when the user requests printing from the image forming apparatus has less power consumption or less power consumption. Place selection buttons, choice radio buttons, choice list boxes, etc. that can be selected at easy-to-select positions, and the size of these buttons, etc., is displayed in a large size to encourage selection, reminiscent of energy saving. Since it is configured and displayed in color, and the printing condition setting screen that also displays the energy saving indicator that notifies the energy saving effect in the selected printing conditions, the user is guided to select the printing conditions that will save energy, As a result, energy saving during printing can be realized.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the print condition setting screen that prompts the user to set the print condition with low power consumption is displayed has been described. However, instead of the power consumption or power consumption, carbon dioxide CO ₂ (“CO ₂ ” at the time of printing) is displayed. The print condition setting screen that prompts the user to set print conditions that suppress the discharge amount may be displayed.
In this case, the CO ₂ emission amount for each combination of printing conditions during printing is measured in advance by experiments, and a CO ₂ emission amount table storing them as a list is stored in the PC 1 or the image forming apparatus 2.
When there is a print request, the PC 1 or the image forming apparatus 2 acquires the CO ₂ emission amount table, and guides selection of an option with a small amount of CO ₂ emission during printing based on the table. By displaying an indicator indicating the CO ₂ emission amount (or a ratio corresponding to the CO ₂ emission reduction amount) under the printing conditions set by performing display processing similar to the above, it is possible to display CO 2 to the user. _{2 It} is possible to set printing conditions with less emission amount, reduce CO ₂ emission amount at the time of printing, and contribute to protection of the global environment.
In addition, for other greenhouse gas emissions of CO ₂ emissions, a printing condition setting screen that prompts the user to set printing conditions for suppressing greenhouse gas emissions during printing can be displayed in the same manner as described above. .

  The image forming system and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can be applied to a printer, a copier, a multifunction peripheral, and a personal computer.

1: PC 2: Image forming apparatus 3: Network 10: Control unit 11: Input unit 12: Display unit 13: NIC 20: System management unit 21: Controller
22: Operation display unit 30: Engine unit unit 31: Scanner unit
32: Printer unit 33: Fixing unit 40: Power supply unit unit
41: DC power supply unit 42: Heater drive unit

JP 2002-297715 A

Claims (6)

An image forming system comprising an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus,
Print power consumption information acquisition means for acquiring print power consumption information indicating power consumption required for printing for each printing condition in the image forming apparatus in the information processing apparatus, and print power consumption acquired by the print power consumption information acquisition means Display control means for configuring and displaying a print condition setting screen in which print conditions are specified in ascending order of power consumption based on the information, and the print condition selected on the print condition setting screen based on the print power consumption information And an image forming system characterized by comprising means for displaying information that clearly indicates the energy saving effect.   2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is provided with means for configuring the print condition setting screen so that a print condition smaller than a preset font size cannot be selected.   3. The image according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is provided with means for configuring the print condition setting screen so that a print condition that causes power consumption exceeding a preset upper limit value cannot be selected. Forming system.   Printing power consumption information acquisition means for acquiring printing power consumption information indicating the power consumption required for printing for each printing condition, and printing in ascending order of power consumption based on the printing power consumption information acquired by the printing power consumption information acquisition means Display control means that configures and displays a print condition setting screen that clearly indicates conditions, and information that visually indicates the energy saving effect based on the print power consumption information for the print condition selected on the print condition setting screen And an image forming apparatus.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for configuring the print condition setting screen so that a print condition smaller than a preset font size cannot be selected.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for configuring the print condition setting screen so that a print condition that causes power consumption exceeding a preset upper limit value cannot be selected.

Images