JP2008011318A - Information notification apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information notification apparatus for providing equipment information on a state of a printer engine in accordance with preferential contents desired by a user when receiving an acquisition request of the equipment information in a sleep mode. <P>SOLUTION: The information notification apparatus 1 of an image forming apparatus 101 includes a storage section 3, a request receiving section 43, a mode receiving section 42, and a communication section 2. The storage section 3 stores first equipment information denoting a state inside the printer engine 113, and the request receiving section 43 receives an external acquisition request about present second equipment information of the printer engine 113 in the sleep mode. The mode receiving section 42 receives designation of a power-saving preferential mode or an information accuracy preferential mode. When the power-saving preferential mode is designated, the communication section 2 transmits the first equipment information in the storage section 3 to a request destination. When the information accuracy preferential mode is designated, a power supply 114 supplies power to the printer engine 113, and the communication section 2 acquires the second equipment information from the printer engine 113 and transmits the second equipment information to a request destination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information notification apparatus, and more particularly to an information notification apparatus for an image forming apparatus including a printer engine capable of forming an image on a recording medium and a power supply unit capable of supplying power to the printer engine.

  Many image forming apparatuses in recent years are equipped with a so-called sleep mode that supplies power to only the minimum necessary units among the units constituting the apparatus in order to reduce power consumption. It is done.

  Furthermore, some image forming apparatuses of this type employ an information notification apparatus that notifies the user of device information indicating the current state inside the image forming apparatus, such as the number of sheets and the remaining amount of toner. For example, when the image forming apparatus is connected to an external apparatus such as a PC and can communicate with the image forming apparatus, the user requests the image forming apparatus to acquire current device information using the external apparatus. The desired device information about can be obtained.

  As such a device, upon receiving a device information acquisition request in the sleep mode, a device that further supplies power to a unit necessary for obtaining device information related to the current state inside the device (Patent Document 1), A device that stores device information in a storage unit immediately before the image forming apparatus is turned off and transmits the device information in the storage unit to a request destination when a device information acquisition request is received when the image forming device is in the sleep mode is known. (Patent Document 2).

As a technique related to the above, when the image forming apparatus receives a plurality of execution instructions of the image forming process when in the sleep mode, these processes are collectively performed when a predetermined time is reached (Patent Document 3). .
JP 2004-130526 A JP-A-9-214659 JP 2005-88499 A

  However, the apparatus of Patent Document 1 supplies power to a printer engine that forms an image on recording paper every time a device information acquisition request is received, starts the printer engine, and acquires current device information from the printer engine. There is a need. When the printer engine is started, noise is generated and power is consumed.

  In the device of Patent Document 2, the device information output to the request destination is not necessarily the latest information, that is, the information at the time when the device information acquisition request is received. Therefore, there is a possibility that device information that is significantly different from the current state of the image forming apparatus is output to the request destination.

  By the way, depending on the user who wants to acquire the device information of the image forming apparatus, the printer engine may be activated and power may be consumed as in Patent Document 1, so priority may be given to acquisition of device information with high accuracy. Since there may be a difference from the current state of the image forming apparatus as in Patent Document 2, priority is given to suppression of power consumption of the image forming apparatus. That is, the contents to be prioritized differ depending on the user who wants to acquire the device information.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an information notification device capable of providing device information about the state of an image forming apparatus according to priority content desired by a user when a device information acquisition request is received in the sleep mode. .

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an invention 1 is an information notification apparatus for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a printer engine capable of forming an image on a recording medium; and a power supply unit capable of supplying power to the printer engine. Storage means, request reception means, mode reception means, and notification means. The storage unit stores first device information indicating an internal state of the printer engine. The request accepting unit accepts an acquisition request from the outside of the second device information indicating the current status of the printer engine while the power supply unit is not supplying power to the printer engine. The mode accepting unit accepts designation of a power saving priority mode that prioritizes stopping the supply of power to the printer engine or an information accuracy priority mode that prioritizes the accuracy of the second device information. The notification means notifies the first device information stored in the storage means when the power saving priority mode is designated. When the information accuracy priority mode is designated, the power supply means supplies power to the printer engine, and the notification means sends the second device from the printer engine supplied with power by the power supply means. Information is acquired and notified.

  The device information includes information such as the remaining amount of toner and the number of remaining sheets. For example, consider a case where the information notification apparatus receives a request from the outside of device information when the image forming apparatus is in a so-called sleep mode in which power is supplied to only a minimum number of units. In the case where the power saving priority mode is set by the user, the information notification device suppresses power consumption by notifying the first device information stored in the storage unit, and the information accuracy priority mode is set. The latest device information is notified by supplying power to the printer engine and starting it, and acquiring the second device information from the started printer engine. In this way, this apparatus can prioritize power saving or the latest device information acquisition according to user preferences. Therefore, user convenience is improved.

  A second aspect of the present invention provides the information notification apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the notification unit is a communication unit capable of transmitting the first or second device information to an external device via a network.

  Examples of the image forming apparatus at this time include a printer and a multifunction peripheral connected to a terminal. As described above, the information notification apparatus can also be applied to an image forming apparatus that can communicate with an external apparatus.

  A third aspect of the present invention provides the information notification device according to the first aspect, wherein the notification unit is a display unit capable of displaying the first or second device information.

  Thereby, the user of this apparatus can know the present apparatus information directly via the screen of an information alerting | reporting apparatus.

  According to the present invention, when a device information acquisition request is received in the sleep mode, device information regarding the state of the image forming apparatus can be provided according to the priority content desired by the user. Therefore, user convenience is improved.

<Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus 101 in which the information notification apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is employed. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment is communicably connected to other terminals 151, 152, 153, etc. via a network.

(1) Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 3 is an external view of the image forming apparatus 101. The image forming apparatus 101 is a model of a multifunction machine having functions as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a scanner, and is equipped with a sleep mode.

  The image forming apparatus 101 includes a document cover 103, a main body unit 104, an operation panel 105, a manual feed tray 106, a finisher 107, and a paper discharge tray 108.

  A document placing table 102 is provided at a portion of the main body 104 facing the document cover 103. The document cover 103 holds the document placed on the document placement table 102 and is mounted on the main body 104 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the document placement table 102.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the main body unit 104 includes a communication unit 2, a document reading unit 112, a printer engine 113, a power source 114, and a control unit 4.

  The communication unit 2 communicates with other terminals 151 to 153.

  The document reading unit 112 is for acquiring image data by reading image information recorded on a document, and has an optical system (not shown).

  The printer engine 113 is for forming and outputting an image on recording paper, and includes an image forming unit 131, a transfer unit 132, a fixing unit 133, a paper feeding unit 134 including a paper feeding cassette, and a discharging unit 135.

  The power source 114 supplies power to the units of the image forming apparatus 101 such as the printer engine 113 and the communication unit 2 and stops the supply. For example, the power supply 114 instructs the communication unit 2, the operation panel 105, and the control unit 4 to start the image forming process when a predetermined time has elapsed when the image forming apparatus 101 does not acquire an image forming process start instruction from the outside. The power is supplied only to the minimum unit necessary for acquiring the image (line A in FIG. 1), and the image forming apparatus 101 is shifted to the sleep mode. When the image forming apparatus 101 receives an instruction to start image forming processing, the power source 114 supplies power to all other units (line B in FIG. 1).

  The control unit 4 is configured by a computer including a CPU, and controls each connected unit. For example, the control unit 4 functions as an engine control unit 41 for controlling the printer engine 113 or performs control as the information notification device 1 (described later).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel 105 is provided on the front side of the document placing table 102 in the main body 104, and has operation keys and a touch panel. The operation keys include a start key for instructing start of image forming processing such as printing, a setting key for various settings, a numeric keypad, and the like. The touch panel is composed of a liquid crystal display. As shown in FIG. 4, whether or not to prioritize power saving of the image forming apparatus 101 when an acquisition request from outside the device information is accepted in the sleep mode (hereinafter referred to as power saving priority mode). Or a screen capable of selecting whether to prioritize accuracy of device information (hereinafter referred to as information accuracy priority mode). The user can select a desired mode from this screen, and the selected mode is temporarily stored in a memory (not shown) of the control unit 4.

  The manual feed tray 106 is a plate-like member that is provided on the side of the main body 104 so as to protrude sideways and can be opened and closed, and on which recording paper and a document can be placed.

  The finisher 107 is provided on the side surface of the image forming apparatus 101 opposite to the manual feed tray 106, and performs sort processing, stapling processing, and the like using the recording paper discharged by the discharge unit 135.

  The paper discharge tray 108 is provided on the side surface of the finisher 107 so as to protrude sideways, and the recording paper processed by the finisher 107 is stacked thereon.

(2) Configuration of Information Notification Device Next, the configuration of the information notification device 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the information notification device 1 includes the communication unit 2, the storage unit 3, and the control unit 4 that have already been described.

  The storage unit 3 is a storage auxiliary device such as an HDD, and stores first device information indicating the internal state of the printer engine 113. Examples of the first storage information include the remaining amount of toner and paper and their replenishment information, the temperature and humidity inside the printer engine 113, and the first storage information includes an update unit 45 (described later) of the control unit 4. Updated regularly.

  When the control unit 4 receives an external acquisition request for device information indicating the current status of the printer engine 113 when the image forming apparatus 101 is in the sleep mode, the power saving priority mode or the information accuracy priority mode set by the user is received. The device information is acquired from the storage unit 3 or the printer engine 113 and notified. In order to perform such operations, the control unit 4 functions as a mode reception unit 42, a request reception unit 43, an information output unit 44, and an update unit 45 in addition to the engine control unit 41.

  When the power saving priority mode or the information accuracy priority mode is specified by the user via the screen shown in FIG. 4 displayed on the touch panel of the operation panel 105, the mode receiving unit 42 receives this.

  When the image forming apparatus 101 is in the sleep mode, the request receiving unit 43 receives a device information acquisition request indicating the current state inside the printer engine 113 from the other terminals 151 to 153 via the communication unit 2.

  When the request receiving unit 43 receives an external request for device information, the information output unit 44 receives the first device in the storage unit 3 according to the power saving priority mode or the information accuracy priority mode received by the mode receiving unit 42. Information is output or the printer engine 113 is activated, and second device information is newly acquired from the printer engine 113 and output to the communication unit 2. More specifically, the information output unit 44 outputs the first device information stored in the storage unit 3 to the communication unit 2 when the mode received by the mode reception unit 42 is the power saving priority mode. In addition, when the mode received by the mode receiving unit 42 is the information accuracy priority mode, the information output unit 44 instructs the power source 114 to supply power to the printer engine 113, and from the printer engine 113 to which power is supplied. The second device information indicating the current state is acquired and output to the communication unit 2.

  When the information output unit 44 newly acquires the second device information from the printer engine 113 and outputs the second device information to the communication unit 2, the update unit 45 overwrites the first device information in the storage unit 3 with the second device information. That is, the update unit 45 updates the device information in the storage unit 3 in a timely manner.

(3) Operation Next, the operation of the information notification apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Step S1: The mode receiving unit 42 of the control unit 4 receives the power saving priority mode or the information accuracy priority mode set by the user via the screen shown in FIG. 4 displayed on the touch panel. Thereafter, it is assumed that the image forming apparatus 101 shifts to the sleep mode after a predetermined time.

  Step S2: The request reception unit 43 receives a request for acquiring the current device information of the printer engine 113 from the other terminals 151 to 153 via the communication unit 2.

  Steps S3-4: When the mode received by the mode receiving unit 42 in step S1 is the information accuracy priority mode (S3), the information output unit 44 outputs a power supply instruction to the printer engine 113 to the power supply 114 (S4). . As a result, the printer engine 113 is activated by being supplied with power from the power source 114.

  Steps S <b> 5 to 7: The information output unit 44 acquires second device information indicating current information inside the printer engine 113 from the activated printer engine 113 and outputs the second device information to the communication unit 2. The update unit 45 updates the first device information in the storage unit 3 to the second device information (S5). The power supply 114 stops supplying power to the printer engine 113 (S6). The communication unit 4 transmits the second device information output by the information output unit 44 to the other terminals 151 to 153 of the request destination (S7).

  Steps S8 to 9: When the mode received by the mode receiving unit 42 in step S1 is the power saving priority mode (S8), the information output unit 44 outputs the first device information in the storage unit 3 to the communication unit 2 for communication. The unit 2 transmits this to the other terminals 151 to 153 of the request destination (S9).

(4) Effect When the power saving priority mode is set by the user, the information notification device 1 transmits the first device information stored in the storage unit 3 to the request destination while the image forming device 101 is in the sleep mode. This reduces power consumption. In addition, when the information accuracy priority mode is set, the information notification device 1 supplies power to the printer engine 113 to activate it, and acquires the second device information from the activated printer engine 113, thereby obtaining the latest device. Send information to the requestee. That is, this apparatus can prioritize power saving or the latest device information acquisition according to the user's preference. Therefore, user convenience is improved.

<Other embodiments>
(A) The information notification device of the above embodiment describes a case where the device information request is acquired from another device on the network and the current device information is transmitted to the request destination device via the communication unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 6, the information notification device 201 includes an operation panel 205 and can obtain a request for device information from the screen of the operation panel 205. In this case, the information notification device 201 may display the current device information on the screen of the operation panel 205. Thereby, the user can know the present apparatus information directly via the screen of an information alerting | reporting apparatus.

  (B) In the information notification apparatus of the above embodiment, it is described that the user selects the information accuracy priority mode or the power saving priority mode via the operation panel of the image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. The information accuracy priority mode or the power saving priority mode may be selected on the screen of another device connected via the network. In this case, the selected mode is transmitted to the image forming apparatus via the network, and the information notification apparatus of the image forming apparatus can perform the same operation as in the above embodiment.

  The information notification apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus for providing device information indicating the current state inside these apparatuses in a copier, a printer, and a facsimile machine, and in a multi-function machine having both of these functions and a scanner function. Can be applied as

1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus that employs an information notification apparatus according to an embodiment. 1 is a system diagram using an image forming apparatus. 1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus. An example of the operation panel. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of an information alerting | reporting apparatus. The block diagram which shows typically the structure of the image forming apparatus as which the information alerting | reporting apparatus which concerns on other embodiment (a) was employ | adopted.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information alerting | reporting apparatus 2 Communication part 3 Memory | storage part 4 Control part 42 Mode reception part 43 Request reception part 101 Image forming apparatus 113 Printer engine 114 Power supply 205 Operation panel

Claims (3)

An information notification apparatus for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a printer engine capable of forming an image on a recording medium; and a power supply unit capable of supplying power to the printer engine.
Storage means for storing first device information indicating an internal state of the printer engine;
Request accepting means for accepting an acquisition request from the outside of second device information indicating the current status of the printer engine while the power supply means is not supplying power to the printer engine;
Mode accepting means for accepting designation of a power saving priority mode in which priority is given to stopping the supply of power to the printer engine, or an information accuracy priority mode in which priority is given to the accuracy of the second device information;
An informing means for informing the first device information stored in the storage means when the power saving priority mode is designated;
The power supply means supplies power to the printer engine when the information accuracy priority mode is designated,
The information notifying device is configured to acquire and notify the second device information from the printer engine supplied with power by the power supply means.   The information notification device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit is a communication unit capable of transmitting the first or second device information to an external device via a network.   The information notification device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit is a display unit capable of displaying the first or second device information.

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