JP2001345971A - Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] Even when individual slave devices are in a sleep state, necessary slave devices in a sleep state are appropriately transitioned to a normal operable state according to input data processing contents, and are individually or in parallel. Is to efficiently execute the image processing request. SOLUTION: In a sleep mode, the copying machine 1 itself determines whether an input data processing request is a request for parallel processing of a plurality of slave copying machines 2 to 4 or a single processing request. The configuration is such that each slave device in the sleep state is returned to a normal operable state based on the sleep state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a storage medium capable of communicating with a plurality of slave devices having a sleep mode via a predetermined communication medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional personal computers, workstations,
Or in information processing devices such as office machines such as printers,
If a certain function is realized by multiple devices connected via a network, etc., if the target device is in sleep mode at the stage when the Generally, control is performed so that execution of processing is started after the sleep state is restored on the remote device side after the execution.

[0003]

In the prior art, when executing a process across a plurality of devices, the process of the device on the remote side is performed when the device is in a sleep state.
Since the process is started after returning from there, there is a disadvantage that the total execution time becomes longer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to determine whether an input data processing request in a sleep mode is a request for parallel processing of the plurality of slave devices. By determining whether it is a request to perform a single process, by returning each slave device in the sleep state to a normal operable state based on the determination result,
Even when each slave device is in the sleep state, the necessary slave devices in the sleep state can be appropriately shifted to a normally operable state according to the input data processing content, and the single or parallel image processing request can be efficiently executed. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a storage medium that can freely construct an image processing environment that can prevent a reduction in power saving effect.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of slave devices having a sleep mode via a predetermined communication medium,
Image processing means (the printer 21 and the scanner 22 shown in FIG.
And a sleep control unit (controller 2 shown in FIG. 2) for shifting the image processing unit to a sleep mode when a predetermined data processing request standby state has passed a predetermined time.
6) and a determination unit (in the controller 26 shown in FIG. 2) for determining whether an input data processing request is a request to perform parallel processing or a single processing of the plurality of slave devices during the sleep mode. And state control means (corresponding to the controller 26 shown in FIG. 2) for returning each sleep device in the sleep state to a normal operable state when the determination means determines that the request is for parallel processing. Have

In a second invention according to the present invention, the state control means returns each sleep device in the sleep state to a normal operable state when the determination means determines that the request is for parallel processing. Wake-up request for each device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the state control means returns the image processing means to a normal operable state when the determination means determines that the request is a single process. It is.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the slave devices share the same function.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the slave device includes a digital copying machine and a composite image processing device.

A sixth invention according to the present invention has an image processing means (corresponding to the printer 21, the scanner 22, etc. shown in FIG. 2) for performing image processing in accordance with a predetermined data processing request inputted, and has a predetermined communication function. An image processing method in an image processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of slave devices having a sleep mode via a medium, wherein the image processing unit is shifted to a sleep mode when a predetermined data processing request standby state has passed a predetermined time. A sleep control step (steps S303 and S304 shown in FIG. 3);
A determination step (step S306 shown in FIG. 3) for determining whether the input data processing request is a request for parallel processing of the plurality of slave devices or a request for single processing, and a request for parallel processing by the determination step. If it is determined that the slave device is in the sleep state, the slave device returns to the normal operable state (step S307 shown in FIG. 3).

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the state control step, when it is determined in the determination step that the request is for parallel processing, each slave device in the sleep state is returned to a normal operable state. Wake-up request for each device.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the status control step, when the determination step determines that the request is a single process, the image processing means is returned to a normal operable state. It is.

In a ninth aspect according to the present invention, the slave devices share the same function process.

[0014] In a tenth aspect according to the present invention, the slave device includes a digital copying machine and a composite image processing apparatus.

An eleventh invention according to the present invention is an image processing means (corresponding to the printer 21, scanner 22, etc. shown in FIG. 2) for performing image processing in accordance with a predetermined data processing request inputted.
The image processing device is capable of communicating with a plurality of slave devices having a sleep mode via a predetermined communication medium, and when the predetermined data processing request standby state elapses a predetermined time, the image processing unit is shifted to the sleep mode. Sleep control process (steps S303 and S304 shown in FIG. 3)
A determining step (step S306 shown in FIG. 3) of determining whether the input data processing request is a request for performing the parallel processing or a single processing on the plurality of slave devices during the sleep mode; If it is determined that the request is a request for parallel processing by the process, the computer executes a state control step (step S307 shown in FIG. 3) of returning each sleep device in the sleep state to a normal operable state. It is recorded on a readable storage medium.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the state control step, when it is determined in the determination step that the request is for parallel processing, each slave device in the sleep state is returned to a state in which normal operation is possible. Wake-up request for each device.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the status control step, the image processing means is returned to a normal operable state when the determination step determines that the request is a single process. It is.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a copying system to which the image processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied, showing a case where a plurality of copying machines 1 to 4 are connected to a network 5. Note that the copying machines 1 to 4 are examples of devices for explaining the features of the present invention, and image processing is not limited to any target device as long as the present invention is applicable. It is needless to say that the devices are not limited to the devices, but include devices constituting various network systems.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a copying machine, which has a cascade copy mode, which is a special mode not provided in the other copying machines 2 to 4. When the copy mode is selected and executed, image data scanned by a scanning unit (not shown)
Are printed by a printer (not shown) and sent to the copiers 2 to 4 so that the printing process is executed by a plurality of printers.

The cascade copy mode is an example for explaining the effectiveness of the present invention, and is not essential for the present invention. Regarding the network configuration, it is not essential to the present invention that the copier 1 has a special mode. Therefore, even in cases other than those shown here, the present invention is applicable to other devices as long as they have the characteristic configuration according to the present invention.

Further, when the cascade copy mode is selected in the copying machine 1, the copying machine 1 requests another device to perform processing in order to realize the function designated by the operator. , Is the master device,
On the other hand, it is assumed that the relationship between the copying machines 2 and 4 is established while the mode of the slave device is valid.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining a control configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Corresponds to the configuration provided in the copying machines 1-4.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a printer, which is a device for printing image data converted by the scanner 22 on paper. A scanner 22 is a device for optically reading image information of a paper document and converting the image information into image data. Reference numeral 23 denotes a paper feeder, which is an apparatus for feeding paper from a bundle of originals to the scanner 22 one by one.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a network adapter, which is a device used for communication with an external device. In the present embodiment, cascade copy is executed to transmit or receive image data from a master device to a slave device. Or to instruct return from the sleep mode. Reference numeral 25 denotes an operation unit which is used by an operator who uses the present apparatus to input processing contents and check the setting contents and operation status.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a controller, which includes a CPU, a RAM,
A hardware control unit such as a ROM is provided, and controls the entire operation of the apparatus. The above-described devices are connected to each other by a system bus 27, and transmission and reception of data and control signals are performed via the system bus 27.

In the image processing apparatus configured as described above, when the copying machine 1 is in the sleep mode, a data processing request input from the operation unit 25 by a user or the like is a request for parallel processing of the plurality of slave devices. In order to determine whether or not the request is a request for one processing, for example, when it is determined that the request is a copy request for a plurality of copies, the copying machines 2 to 4 as the slave devices in the sleep state are returned to a state in which normal operation is possible. Is transmitted via the network, so that even when each of the copying machines 2 to 4 is in the sleep state, the necessary copying machines 2 to 4 in the sleep state are operated properly according to the input data processing contents. By making a transition to a possible state, a single (such as a simple copy request) or parallel image processing request is efficiently executed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the first data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to the operation procedure of the controller 26 in the cascade copy master device (copier 1). Note that S
Reference numerals 301 to S308 denote each step.

First, after the system is started, initialization processing of the equipment itself, initialization processing necessary for transmission and reception of a network protocol, and the like are performed (step S301), and the processing shifts to a request waiting state (step S302). Since the contents of the initialization process are not essential to the present invention, a detailed description is omitted, but the present invention is applied regardless of the contents of the process.

In step S302, the process proceeds to the next step only when there is any external request to the controller 26. In this request, the user requests the operation unit 25
In addition to requests for processing through such as the above, requests such as interrupts occurring in the system are also included.

In the present embodiment, for the sake of explanation, the requests are a cascade copy start request, a timer elapse interrupt request, and a user's operation request other than cascade copy (including a cascade copy execution request).
The description will be made by classifying the types.

First, in step S302, it is determined whether the received request is a timer elapsed interrupt request (step S303). If it is determined that the received request is a timer elapsed interrupt request, the system is used last. This means that no processing request has been made even after the set time elapses from the stage to the transition to the sleep state. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S304 to transition to the sleep state. . Note that the process exits from the sleep state when a request as received in step S302 is received. However, in this case, since it is already in the sleep state, it is not necessary to identify whether the request is a timer elapsed interrupt request in step S303.

After exiting from step S304, in step S305, the timer is reset to start measuring the time until the next sleep, and to identify the type of request accepted in step S302. The process proceeds to S306 and subsequent steps.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S303 that the request is not a timer elapsed interrupt request, it is determined in step S306 whether the received request is a cascade copy start request. The cascade copy start request indicates that the device on the remote side will be used. However, the operation that is actually performed on the remote side is a cascade copy execution request. Has been issued for the cascade copy.

Here, if it is determined that the request is a cascade copy start request, the slave device (copier 2 to copier 2)
In order to return from the sleep state for 4), wa
A keup request is output (step S307). If it is determined in step S306 that the request is not a cascade copy start request, the wake
Since there is no need to issue an e-up request, the process moves to step S308 to execute normal processing.

In step S307, wak
After transmitting the e-up request, the process also proceeds to step S308,
Perform the processing required to start the cascade copy, and execute step S
Upon completion of the process in S308, the process returns to step S302.
It enters the request waiting state again.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the second data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
This corresponds to the operation procedure of the controller 26 in 4).
In addition, S401 to S410 indicate each step.

First, after the system is started, initialization processing of the equipment itself, initialization processing necessary for transmission and reception of a network protocol and the like are performed (step S401), and the processing shifts to a request waiting state (step S402). Step S40
In 2, the process proceeds to the next step only when there is any external request to the controller 26. It is assumed that the request here includes not only a request for processing performed by the user through the operation unit 25 or the like, but also a request such as an interrupt generated in the system.

In this embodiment, for the purpose of explanation, the requests are classified into three types: a cascade copy start request, a timer elapse interrupt request, and an operation request other than the cascade copy request (including a cascade copy execution request) by the user. Will be explained.

First, in step S402, it is determined whether the received request is a timer elapsed interrupt request (step S403). If it is determined that the received request is a timer elapsed interrupt request, the system is used last. This means that no processing request has been made even after the set time elapses from the stage to the transition to the sleep state, so the process proceeds to step S404, and transitions to the sleep state (step S404). Note that the process exits from the sleep state when the request as received in step S402 is received. However, in this case, since it is already in the sleep state, it is not necessary to identify whether the request is a timer elapsed interrupt request in step S403.

After exiting from step S404, the timer is reset in step S405 to start measuring the time until the next sleep, and to identify the type of request accepted in step S403, The process proceeds to S406 and subsequent steps.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S403 that the request is not a timer elapsed interrupt request, it is determined in step S406 whether the request received in step S402 is a cascade copy start request, and the request is a cascade copy start request. In this case, the process proceeds to step S407, and the timer interrupt for shifting to the sleep state is prohibited.

This is to prevent the slave side from transitioning to the sleep state again while the operator sets the cascade copy job on the master side.

If it is determined in step S406 that the request is not a cascade copy start request, step S40
8 and at the end of the cascade copy, step S4
In step 07, it is determined whether or not the prohibited timer interrupt should be restored. If it is determined that the request is a cascade copy end request, the process proceeds to step S409, the timer interrupt request is enabled again, and then the process returns to step S410. Execute advance processing.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S408 that the cascade copy has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S408.
Proceeding to 410, execute normal processing.

When the process is completed in step S410, the process returns to step S402, and enters a request waiting state again.

The cascade copy end request in step S408 is issued by the controller 26 of the copying machines 2 to 4 when the processing on the slave device side is completed. However, a model in which the master device issues the termination request itself to the slave device is also conceivable.
However, since the method is not essential to the present invention, the present invention is applied in any case.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment,
Although the example of the cascade copy has been described, the present invention can be applied to other cases as long as it relates to functions between devices connected to the network. For example, the control of causing a printer in a sleep state to wake up on a server side when a print job is issued between a normal printer server and a print client is also required.
The mechanism shown in the first embodiment can be applied as it is.

According to the above embodiment, when the function instructed to be executed by the operator can be executed only by the own device, the device other than the own device connected by the communication means is not instructed to return from the sleep state. If it is known in advance that a certain function requires a plurality of devices to execute a function, the other devices are returned from the sleep state in synchronization with the device operated by the operator. As a result, it is possible to provide a mechanism for improving the performance of the system and realizing energy saving as much as possible.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program that can be read by an image processing system to which the image processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs readable by an image processing system to which the image processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, such as version information and a creator, is also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, such as a program, An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. And in that case, CD-ROM, flash memory, FD
The present invention can be applied to a case in which a group of information including a program is supplied to an output device from a storage medium such as the above or from an external storage medium via a network.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program code of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, RO
M, EEPROM and the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing is also included.

[0060]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the thirteenth aspect, during the sleep mode, it is determined whether the input data processing request is a request to process the plurality of slave devices in parallel or a single process,
Since each slave device in the sleep state is returned to the normal operable state based on the determination result, even if each slave device is in the sleep state, a necessary slave device in sleep is appropriately determined according to the input data processing content. By making a transition to a state in which normal operation can be performed, an image processing environment that can efficiently execute a single or parallel image processing request and that can maintain a power-saving state for slave devices except during parallel processing can be freely constructed. It has the effect of being able to do so.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a copying system to which an image processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a first data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a second data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by an image processing system to which the image processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-4 Copier 21 Printer 22 Scanner 23 Paper Feeder 24 Network Adapter 25 Operation Unit 26 Controller

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of slave devices having a sleep mode via a predetermined communication medium, comprising: an image processing unit configured to perform image processing according to a predetermined data processing request input; A sleep control unit that causes the image processing unit to transition to a sleep mode when the standby state of the data processing request has passed a predetermined time; and a data processing request that is input during the sleep mode is a request that causes the plurality of slave devices to perform parallel processing. A determination unit that determines whether the request is to perform a single process; and a state control unit that returns each slave device in the sleep state to a normal operable state when the determination unit determines that the request is a parallel process. An image processing apparatus comprising: 2. The state control means, when the determination means determines that the request is a parallel processing request, issues a wakeup request for returning each sleep device in a sleep state to a normal operable state. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction is given to the user. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the state control unit returns the image processing unit to a normal operable state when the determination unit determines that the request is a single process. Image processing device. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slave devices share processing of the same function. 5. The slave device is a digital copying machine,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a composite image processing apparatus.
The image processing device according to any one of claims 2 and 4. 6. An image processing apparatus having image processing means for performing image processing in accordance with an input predetermined data processing request and capable of communicating with a plurality of slave devices having a sleep mode via a predetermined communication medium. A sleep control step of causing the image processing means to transition to a sleep mode when a predetermined data processing request standby state has passed a predetermined time; and during the sleep mode, an input data processing request is transmitted to the plurality of slaves. A determining step of determining whether the request is a request to perform parallel processing or a single processing of the device; An image processing method comprising: a state control step of restoring. 7. The state control step includes, when determining in the determination step that the request is a request for parallel processing, issuing a wakeup request for returning each sleep device in a sleep state to a normal operable state. 7. The image processing method according to claim 6, wherein the instruction is given. 8. The image processing device according to claim 6, wherein the state control step returns the image processing unit to a normal operable state when it is determined in the determination step that the request is a single process. Image processing method. 9. The image processing method according to claim 6, wherein the slave devices share the processing of the same function. 10. The image processing method according to claim 6, wherein the slave device includes a digital copying machine and a composite image processing device. 11. An image processing apparatus having image processing means for performing image processing in accordance with an input predetermined data processing request and capable of communicating with a plurality of slave devices having a sleep mode via a predetermined communication medium. A sleep control step of causing the image processing means to transition to a sleep mode when the standby state of the data processing request elapses a predetermined time; and a request to input the data processing request during the sleep mode to process the plurality of slave devices in parallel. Or a determining step of determining whether the request is a single processing request, and a state controlling step of returning each sleep device in the sleep state to a normal operable state when it is determined that the request is a parallel processing request in the determining step. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing the program. 12. The state control step, wherein, when it is determined in the determination step that the request is a parallel processing request, a wake-up request for returning each sleep device in a sleep state to a normal operable state is transmitted to each device. 12. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the instruction is given to the user. 13. The image processing device according to claim 11, wherein the state control step returns the image processing unit to a state in which the image processing unit can normally operate when the determination step determines that the request is a single process. Storage media.