U.S. patent application number 13/682813 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-30 for image forming apparatus having energy saving mode learning function and controller therefor.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha. The applicant listed for this patent is Yukari EBI, Shinsaku TOHKI. Invention is credited to Yukari EBI, Shinsaku TOHKI.
Application Number | 20130135659 13/682813 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48466616 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130135659 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
EBI; Yukari ; et
al. |
May 30, 2013 |
IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING ENERGY SAVING MODE LEARNING FUNCTION
AND CONTROLLER THEREFOR
Abstract
An energy saving setting unit controls an image forming
apparatus that makes a transition to a power saving state if a
transition time passes without any prescribed operation in a normal
state, and it includes: a unit for storing specific day information
distinguishing a normal operation day and a specific day; an auto
pattern updating unit determining the transition time in a normal
operation day based on past operational status of the normal
operation day of the image forming apparatus; a specific day
pattern registering unit receiving and storing setting of the
transition time of the specific day; and a switching unit,
switching the state of conduction of the image forming apparatus
using the transition time determined by the auto pattern updating
unit and the stored transition time, on the normal operation day
and on the specific day, respectively, based on the specific day
information.
Inventors: |
EBI; Yukari; (Osaka-shi,
JP) ; TOHKI; Shinsaku; (Osaka-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
EBI; Yukari
TOHKI; Shinsaku |
Osaka-shi
Osaka-shi |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
|
Family ID: |
48466616 |
Appl. No.: |
13/682813 |
Filed: |
November 21, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 15/4055 20130101;
H04N 2201/3204 20130101; Y02D 50/20 20180101; Y02D 10/00 20180101;
G06K 15/02 20130101; H04N 2201/3274 20130101; H04N 2201/3273
20130101; Y02D 10/159 20180101; G06F 3/1204 20130101; H04N 1/32106
20130101; G06F 3/1229 20130101; H04N 2201/0094 20130101; G06F
1/3284 20130101; Y02D 30/50 20200801; G06F 3/1221 20130101; H04N
1/00832 20130101; G06F 3/1285 20130101; H04N 1/00896 20130101; G06F
3/1273 20130101; Y02D 10/1592 20180101; H04N 2201/0098
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
358/1.14 |
International
Class: |
G06K 15/02 20060101
G06K015/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 29, 2011 |
JP |
2011-260001 |
Claims
1. An image forming apparatus, capable of changing state of
conduction, after a lapse of a preset transition time without any
prescribed operation made in a normal state, from said normal state
to a power saving state of smaller power consumption, comprising: a
storage device configured to store specific time slot information
for distinguishing a normal operation time slot and a specific time
slot; a determining device configured to determine said transition
time in said normal operation time slot, based on operational
status of said normal operation time slot in the past of the image
forming apparatus; a setting receiving device configured to receive
and store setting of said transition time in said specific time
slot; and a switching device, configured to switch the state of
conduction of said image forming apparatus, using said transition
time determined by said determining device and said transition time
stored in said setting receiving device, in said normal operation
time slot and in said specific time slot, respectively, based on
said specific time slot information stored in said storage
device.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
setting receiving device includes a default transition time
generating device configured to generate and present to an operator
a default value of said transition time of said specific time slot,
by collecting, when setting of said transition time in said
specific time slot is received, information of operational status
of said image forming apparatus in each said specific time slot,
and a modification receiving device configured to receive
modification by the operator to said default value, and to store
said default value thus modified as the setting of said transition
time in said specific time slot.
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a holiday obtaining device configured to obtain setting
of a holiday of a place of business where the image forming
apparatus is installed; and a changing device configured to change,
if said specific time slot set by said setting receiving device
falls on the holiday obtained by said holiday obtaining device,
said specific time slot to a different time slot having a
prescribed relation with said specific time slot.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further
comprising a data communication device; wherein said holiday
obtaining device includes a holiday setting receiving device
configured to receive setting of a holiday of the place of business
where said image forming apparatus is installed, from a prescribed
external device through said communication device.
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a data communication device; wherein said holiday
obtaining device includes a holiday setting receiving device
configured to receive setting of a holiday of the place of business
where said image forming apparatus is installed, from a prescribed
external device through said communication device.
6. A controller for controlling state of conduction of an image
forming apparatus, capable of changing state of conduction, after a
lapse of a preset transition time without any prescribed operation
made in a normal state, from said normal state to a power saving
state of smaller power consumption, said controller comprising: a
storage device configured to store specific time slot information
for distinguishing a normal operation time slot and a specific time
slot; a determining device configured to determine said transition
time in said normal operation time slot, based on operational
status of said normal operation time slot in the past of the image
forming apparatus; a setting receiving device configured to receive
and store setting of said transition time in said specific time
slot; and a switching device, configured to switch the state of
conduction of said image forming apparatus, using said transition
time determined by said determining device and said transition time
stored in said setting receiving device, in said normal operation
time slot and in said specific time slot, respectively, based on
said specific time slot information stored in said storage
device.
7. A method of controlling power saving state in an image forming
apparatus, capable of changing state of conduction, after a lapse
of a preset transition time without any prescribed operation made
in a normal state, from said normal state to a power saving state
of smaller power consumption, said method comprising the steps of:
storing, in a first storage device, specific time slot information
for distinguishing a normal operation time slot and a specific time
slot; determining said transition time in said normal operation
time slot, based on operational status of said normal operation
time slot in the past of the image forming apparatus; receiving and
storing in a second storage device setting of said transition time
in said specific time slot; and switching the state of conduction
of said image forming apparatus, using said transition time
determined at said determining step and said transition time stored
in said second storage device, in said normal operation time slot
and in said specific time slot, respectively, based on said
specific time slot information stored in said first storage
device.
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further
comprising: a holiday obtaining device configured to obtain setting
of a holiday of a place of business where the image forming
apparatus is installed; and a changing device configured to change,
if said specific time slot set by said setting receiving device
falls on the holiday obtained by said holiday obtaining device,
said specific time slot to a different time slot having a
prescribed relation with said specific time slot.
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further
comprising a data communication device; wherein said holiday
obtaining device includes a holiday setting receiving device
configured to receive setting of a holiday of the place of business
where said image forming apparatus is installed, from a prescribed
external device through said communication device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) on Patent Application No. 2011-260001 filed in
Japan on Nov. 29, 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus
with an operational mode allowing a so-called power-saving
operation as well as to a controller for controlling the
power-saving operation of the image forming apparatus. More
specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming
apparatus having a function of controlling time from completion of
a work before a power saving mode is entered, and a controller
therefor.
[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0005] As one type of image processing apparatuses as electronic
equipment, an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a
sheet of paper (typically a copy machine) has been introduced to
many places of business (companies and offices). In such a place of
business, it is becoming a common practice to have an image forming
apparatus having a printer function or copy function connected to a
network and to share the apparatus by a plurality of users. An MFP
(MultiFunction Peripheral) as one type of such image forming
apparatus has a plurality of basic operational modes including copy
mode, facsimile mode, network-compatible printer mode and scanner
mode. In such an image forming apparatus, each user sets an
operational mode and sets a function such as double-sided printing
or collective printing (2-in-1 of printing two pages on one sheet,
or 4-in-1 of printing four pages on one sheet), and thereby forms
an image on recording paper in a desired manner. Appropriate
combinations of these functions are used increasingly these
days.
[0006] Let us consider a digital image forming apparatus provided
with an image forming unit utilizing electrophotography process. In
such an image forming apparatus, a toner image reproduced on a
photoreceptor is transferred to a sheet of recording paper. A
heating and fixing unit has a heat source such as a heater, and
fixes the toner that has been transferred to the sheet of recording
paper on the sheet, with prescribed temperature and pressure.
Therefore, in order to provide an environment allowing image
formation at any time, it is necessary to keep the heating and
fixing unit at a constant temperature. This means that power
conduction to the heater must be controlled continuously. Such a
control naturally leads to a problem of increased power
consumption. Particularly, a heater needs much electric power and,
therefore, it poses a significant problem from the viewpoint of
energy saving. Reduction of power consumption in companies and
offices is emphasized recently and, therefore, constant need of
such big electric power is undesirable.
[0007] In view of the foregoing, it may be possible to control
power conduction to the heating and fixing unit taking into account
operational status of the image forming apparatus while it is
powered on. If power conduction to the heating and fixing unit is
reduced too much, however, there arises a problem that image
formation cannot be started immediately even when power conduction
to the heating and fixing unit is resumed for image formation. This
is because the temperature of heating and fixing unit has been
reduced. An image cannot be formed before the heating and fixing
unit attains to a prescribed temperature, and the user is kept
waiting. Therefore, it is not preferable to shut-off power
conduction to the heating and fixing unit too early after the end
of operation of the image forming apparatus.
[0008] On the other hand, depending on the time of day or time
slot, the apparatus may be used very frequently or may be left idle
and kept in a standby state for a long time. If the operational
status of the image forming apparatus is monitored carefully and
the time before power conduction to the heating and fixing unit is
shut-off is determined appropriately, power consumption may
possibly be further reduced.
[0009] As a solution to such a problem, Japanese Patent Laying-Open
No. 2007-30325 (hereinafter referred to as '325 Reference)
discloses a printing device in which data is accumulated by
obtaining number of printings per each time slot while the device
is powered-on, and transition time to the power saving mode is
determined based on the number of printings of each time slot
included in the accumulated data.
[0010] FIG. 1 shows an example of wait time per hour of the image
forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 shows an example of change in the
number of outputs and the number of jobs per hour. As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, the wait time, the number of outputs and the number
of jobs per hour have prescribed patterns. Such patterns, however,
may vary department by department, or may vary seasonally. The
patterns may also vary dependent on the day of the week.
[0011] The printing device disclosed in '325 Reference learns the
transition time to the power saving mode based on the history of
printing, and the printing device is controlled such that the time
before suspension is made shorter in the time slot when the number
of printing is small, and the time before suspension is made longer
in the time slot when printing is done relatively frequently. Such
a control reduces the possibility that the printing device is in
the suspended state and that it takes long before an image is
formed, when use of the printing device is started.
[0012] Here, it is noted that depending on the place where the
image forming apparatus is installed, the day and the time of day
(time slot) when the business peaks is known in advance. If the
transition time to the power saving mode is set short in the day
and the time of day when the business peaks, business efficiency
lowers. Therefore, it is preferred that the transition time to the
power saving mode is manually settable, to prevent the transition
time to the power saving mode from being set too short in such a
specific day (hereinafter also referred to as a specific day) and
specific time of day (hereinafter also referred to as a specific
time slot).
[0013] For instance, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-71269
(hereinafter referred to as '269 Reference) discloses an image
processing system in which the power saving mode of a specific day
and specific time slot can be set manually based on calendar data.
It is possible to activate the learning function as described in
'325 Reference and to manually set the "specific day and specific
time slot" as disclosed in '269 Reference to cause the apparatus in
a specific power saving setting (transition time to the power
saving mode) in the specific day and the specific time slot, so as
to cope with the peak business day of each month and thereby to
prevent decrease in business efficiency.
[0014] If the operation patterns of an image forming apparatus are
well understood by the user, it may be possible to combine the
manual setting with learning, as described in '269 Reference, to
reflect the operational status of the image forming apparatus. In
that case, however, if the relation between manual setting and
learning is not successfully established, learning accuracy
possibly degrades. Such a problem is not described in '269
Reference. The manual setting itself is not necessarily easy if the
actual situation is to be accurately reflected. If the manual
setting is not very accurate, energy saving effect cannot be
attained. If accuracy of manual setting is to be increased, it
becomes necessary to accurately grasp the operational status of the
image forming apparatus, and the burden on a person in charge
becomes heavier.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
an image forming apparatus allowing efficient management of an
energy saving operation pattern by combining learning and manual
setting, as well as a controller for controlling the energy saving
operation pattern of the image forming apparatus.
[0016] It is more preferable to provide an image forming apparatus
allowing efficient management of the energy saving operation
pattern by combining learning and manual setting, alleviating
burden on the person in charge at the time of manual setting and
preventing decrease in accuracy, as well as a controller for
controlling the energy saving operation pattern of the image
forming apparatus.
[0017] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides
an image forming apparatus, capable of changing state of
conduction, after a lapse of a preset transition time without any
prescribed operation made in a normal state, from the normal state
to a power saving state of smaller power consumption. The image
forming apparatus includes: a storage device configured to store
specific time slot information for distinguishing a normal
operation time slot and a specific time slot; a determining device
configured to determine the transition time in the normal operation
time slot, based on operational status of the normal operation time
slot in the past of the image forming apparatus; a setting
receiving device configured to receive and store setting of the
transition time in the specific time slot; and a switching device,
configured to switch the state of conduction of the image forming
apparatus, using the transition time determined by the determining
device and the transition time stored in the setting receiving
device, in the normal operation time slot and in the specific time
slot, respectively, based on the specific time slot information
stored in the storage device.
[0018] The determining device determines the transition time in a
normal operation time slot, based on the operational status of the
image forming apparatus in the normal operation time slot in the
past. On the other hand, the setting receiving device receives
setting by an operator of the transition time in the specific time
slot. In the normal operation time slot, the switching device
switches the state of power conduction of the image forming
apparatus between the normal state and the power saving state using
the transition time determined by the determining device. On the
contrary, in the specific time zone, the switching device switches
the state of power conduction of the image forming apparatus using
the transition time of which setting is received by the setting
receiving device.
[0019] In determining the transition time in the normal operation
time slot, the operational status of the image forming apparatus in
the normal operation time slot is used, rather than the operational
status of the image forming apparatus in the specific time slot.
Therefore, influence of the operational status of the image forming
apparatus in the specific time slot on the transition time in the
normal operation time slot can be prevented. As a result, an image
forming apparatus allowing efficient management of the energy
saving operation pattern by combining learning and manual setting
can be provided.
[0020] Preferably, the setting receiving device includes: a default
transition time generating device configured to generate and
present to an operator a default value of the transition time of
the specific time slot, by collecting, when setting of the
transition time in the specific time slot is received, information
of operational status of the image forming apparatus in each
specific time slot; and a modification receiving device configured
to receive modification by the operator to the default value, and
to store the default value thus modified as the setting of the
transition time in the specific time slot.
[0021] The default value of transition time in the specific time
slot is generated by the setting receiving device, by collecting
the operational status of the image forming apparatus. The operator
can set the desired transition time based on the actual operational
status of the image forming apparatus in the specific time slot,
using the default value as a reference and modifying it as needed
by the modification receiving device. This prevents excessive
burden on the person in charge of setting.
[0022] More preferably, the image forming apparatus further
includes: a holiday obtaining device configured to obtain setting
of a holiday of a place of business where the image forming
apparatus is installed; and a changing device configured to change,
if the specific time slot set by the setting receiving device falls
on the holiday obtained by the holiday obtaining device, the
specific time slot to a different time slot having a prescribed
relation with the specific time slot.
[0023] If the specific time slot falls on a holiday, the setting of
transition time of the image forming apparatus would possibly be
different from the setting actually needed in the place of
business, unless the specific time slot is changed to a different
time slot. Since the changing device is provided, it becomes
possible to determine in advance how the specific time slot is to
be changed if it falls on a holiday. Thus, determination of the
transition time of the image forming apparatus can be changed to
reflect the actual situation of the place of business where the
image forming apparatus is installed.
[0024] More preferably, the image forming apparatus further
includes a data communication device. The holiday obtaining device
includes a holiday setting receiving device configured to receive
setting of a holiday of the place of business where the image
forming apparatus is installed, from a prescribed external device
through the communication device.
[0025] Assume that a company has a plurality of places of business,
and holidays are the same for all the places of business. In that
case, holiday management place by place of business is inefficient.
When settings related to the holidays are stored in an external
device and each image forming apparatus receives the settings from
the external device, holidays of the plurality of places of
business can collectively be managed with high efficiency.
[0026] In accordance with a second aspect, the present invention
provides a controller for controlling state of conduction of an
image forming apparatus, capable of changing state of conduction,
after a lapse of a preset transition time without any prescribed
operation made in a normal state, from the normal state to a power
saving state of smaller power consumption, the controller
including: a storage device configured to store specific time slot
information for distinguishing a normal operation time slot and a
specific time slot; a determining device configured to determine
the transition time in the normal operation time slot, based on
operational status of the normal operation time slot in the past of
the image forming apparatus; a setting receiving device configured
to receive and store setting of the transition time in the specific
time slot; and a switching device, configured to switch the state
of conduction of the image forming apparatus, using the transition
time determined by the determining device and the transition time
stored in the setting receiving device, in the normal operation
time slot and in the specific time slot, respectively, based on the
specific time slot information stored in the storage device.
[0027] In accordance with a third aspect, the present invention
provides a method of controlling power saving state in an image
forming apparatus, capable of changing state of conduction, after a
lapse of a preset transition time without any prescribed operation
made in a normal state, from the normal state to a power saving
state of smaller power consumption. The method includes the steps
of; storing, in a first storage device, specific time slot
information for distinguishing a normal operation time slot and a
specific time slot; determining the transition time in the normal
operation time slot, based on operational status of the normal
operation time slot in the past of the image forming apparatus;
receiving and storing in a second storage device setting of the
transition time in the specific time slot; and switching the state
of conduction of the image forming apparatus, using the transition
time determined at the determining step and the transition time
stored in the second storage device, in the normal operation time
slot and in the specific time slot, respectively, based on the
specific time slot information stored in the first storage
device.
[0028] As described above, by the present invention, an image
forming apparatus allowing efficient management of the energy
saving operation pattern by combining learning and manual setting,
and attaining accurate result of learning, as well as a controller
for controlling the energy saving operation pattern of the image
forming apparatus can be provided.
[0029] Further, by the present invention, an image forming
apparatus allowing efficient management of the energy saving
operation pattern by combining learning and manual setting,
alleviating the burden on the person in charge at the time of
setting, and preventing decrease in accuracy, as well as a
controller for controlling the energy saving operation pattern of
the image forming apparatus can be provided.
[0030] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and
advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from
the following detailed description of the present invention when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is a graph showing an example of hourly wait time of
an image forming apparatus.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a graph showing hourly variation in the number of
outputs per hour and the number of jobs per hour.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram schematically showing
an example of a visually-friendly display of operational modes of
the image forming apparatus in the image forming system in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing hardware
configuration of the image forming apparatus in the image forming
system of FIG. 3.
[0035] FIG. 5 schematically shows an example of a network system
configuration including the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
4.
[0036] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing functions
related to an operational mode related to energy saving.
[0037] FIG. 7 shows an example of job logs recorded in the image
forming apparatus of FIG. 4.
[0038] FIG. 8 shows an example of an energy saving setting screen
used in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 4.
[0039] FIG. 9 shows an example of a panel used for setting a
specific day on a screen allowing energy saving setting of the
specific day.
[0040] FIG. 10 shows an example of a panel used for setting an
energy saving operation pattern of a specific day, on the screen
allowing energy saving setting of the specific day.
[0041] FIG. 11 shows an example of a panel used for setting a
holiday on the screen allowing energy saving setting of the
specific day.
[0042] FIG. 12 shows an example of a screen displaying a list of
holidays.
[0043] FIG. 13 shows data configuration for setting the energy
saving patterns of specific days, used in the image forming
apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0044] FIG. 14 is a flowchart representing a control structure of a
program displaying result of learning of the energy saving
operation pattern in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
4.
[0045] FIG. 15 is a flowchart representing a control structure of a
program for visually displaying time-change of the energy saving
operation pattern, including the result of learning of the energy
saving operation pattern, operational modes set by the user and the
like, in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 4.
[0046] FIG. 16 is a flowchart representing a control structure of a
program for registering, in accordance with a user instruction,
whether the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 4 is to be
operated in accordance with the schedule of energy saving operation
pattern learned automatically, or to be operated in accordance with
the schedule set by the user.
[0047] FIG. 17 is a flowchart representing a control structure of a
program for saving a user pattern, which is a schedule of the
energy saving operation pattern formed by the user, in the image
forming apparatus shown in FIG. 4.
[0048] FIG. 18 is a flowchart representing a control structure of a
program for updating contents of energy saving settings displayed
on a screen, in accordance with a user selection, in the image
forming apparatus shown in FIG. 4.
[0049] FIG. 19 is a flowchart representing a control structure of a
program for updating, when the user modifies the user pattern, the
display in accordance with the result of modification, in the image
forming apparatus shown in FIG. 4.
[0050] FIG. 20 is a flowchart representing a control structure of a
program for automatically learning the energy saving operation
pattern of the image forming apparatus, based on job logs over a
prescribed time period in the past other than the specific day, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0051] FIG. 21 is a flowchart representing a control structure of a
program executed by the image forming apparatus in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention, to output the screen shown
in FIGS. 9 to 11.
[0052] FIG. 22 is a flowchart representing a control structure of a
specific day registering program executed by the image forming
apparatus when OK button is pressed on the screen shown in FIG.
9.
[0053] FIG. 23 is a flowchart representing a control structure of
the program for generating the default energy saving operation
pattern for the specific day.
[0054] FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration
of a network system 1100 in accordance with a second embodiment of
the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0055] In the following description, the same components are
denoted by the same reference characters. Their functions and names
are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not
be repeated.
First Embodiment
[0056] <<Outline>>
[0057] As described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, operational
status of the image forming apparatus of the system in accordance
with the present embodiment differs department by department, day
by day of the week, and hour by hour of the day. Therefore, the
time before the heating and fixing unit is set to the suspended
state also differs day by day of the week, hour by hour of the day
and department by department where the image forming apparatus is
installed. Therefore, the image forming apparatus in accordance
with the present embodiment learns energy saving operation pattern
automatically, from the operational status of each time of day
(time slot) and each day of the week, as in '269 Reference. In
order to solve the problem that it is difficult for the user to
grasp how the apparatus operates, the image forming apparatus in
accordance with the present embodiment provides a user-friendly
display showing the result of learning in the form of a table, as
represented by Table 50 of FIG. 3.
[0058] Referring to FIG. 3, Table 50 is a two-dimensional table. In
Table 50, the abscissa represents days of the week and the ordinate
represents hours of the day, that is, 24 hours divided hour by
hour.
[0059] In the image forming apparatus of the system in accordance
with the present embodiment, each cell of Table 50 represents the
energy saving operation pattern set for that time slot of that day,
by the color of the cell. Since FIG. 3 here is given in
black-and-white, the colors are represented by different hatchings.
By way of example, cell 66 is in a "high-performance" mode in which
the apparatus is used with highest frequency, and it corresponds to
red in actual display. Cell 64 is in a "performance" mode, in which
image forming apparatus 100 is used with relatively high frequency,
though not as high as in the "high performance" mode, and this
corresponds to pink in actual display. Cell 62 represents a time
slot of "balance" mode, in which the frequency of use is lower than
the time slot of "performance" mode, and it corresponds to pale
blue. Cell 60 represents a time slot of "energy saving" mode having
lowest frequency of use, and it corresponds to green. Since the
cells are displayed in different colors, the four energy saving
operation patterns can clearly be understood visually. No matter
whether Table 50 is displayed on a touch-panel display 130 of image
forming apparatus 100 or on a display of a personal computer
(hereinafter referred to as a PC) 190 for an administrator, the
administrator can easily and intuitively understand how image
forming apparatus 100 is operating in each time slot.
[0060] If the energy saving operation pattern is "high
performance," the time from when the heating and fixing unit of the
image forming apparatus stops operation until the apparatus makes a
transition to a suspended state (hereinafter this time will be
referred to as "transition time") is the longest and, for example,
it is one hour. If the pattern is "performance," the transition
time is the second longest, and it is set, for example, to 30
minutes. If the pattern is "balance," the image forming apparatus
is shut-off in a much shorter time period than in the "performance"
mode, for example, after 5 minutes. If the pattern is "power
saving," the image forming apparatus is shut-off in the shortest
time period after the end of operation, for example just after 10
seconds.
[0061] Image forming apparatus 100 in accordance with the present
embodiment has a function of automatically learning such energy
saving operation patterns based on past job logs. Further, in order
to enable the user to manually set an energy saving operation
pattern for a specific day different from the days of which energy
saving operation patterns are determined based on learning, image
forming apparatus 100 has a function allowing manual setting of
such a specific day and the energy saving operation pattern of
image forming apparatus 100 for the specific day. Here, the energy
saving operation pattern can be set manually time-slot by
time-slot. The settable mode is any of the four modes mentioned
above. It is also possible to set using the result of learning.
During learning described above, the time slot or time slots of
which operational mode is set manually (hereinafter such a time
slot will be referred to as "specific time slot") of the specific
day set in this manner are not used as the object of learning, and
in learning the energy saving operation patterns of other days, the
job logs of the specific time slot of the specific day are not user
for learning.
[0062] Details of these functions and the configurations to realize
such functions in the image forming apparatus of the system in
accordance with the present embodiment will be described later.
[0063] <<Configuration>>
[0064] The image forming apparatus forms an image on a sheet of
recording paper by electrophotography. The image forming apparatus
includes, as the operational modes, copy mode, facsimile mode,
document filing mode and mail mode. The image forming apparatus may
also have a network printer mode. The printing method is not
limited to the electrophotography, and the present invention is
applicable to any printing method involving a component such as the
heating and fixing unit that takes relatively long time to return
to the operable state once it is set to the suspended state.
[0065] <Image Forming Apparatus: Control Block
Configuration>
[0066] Referring to FIG. 4, image forming apparatus 100 of the
system in accordance with the present embodiment includes a
document reading unit (scanner) 102, an image forming unit 104, a
FAX communication unit 160, a network interface (hereinafter
interface will be denoted as I/F) 170, and an operation unit 120,
operating as a operation display panel allowing setting of
functions related to various operational modes. Operation unit 120
includes a touch-panel display 130 and an operation key portion
140. Touch-panel display 130 includes a display panel 132 formed,
for example of a liquid crystal panel, and a touch-panel 134
arranged over display panel 132 allowing detection of a position
pressed by a user's finger. On operation key portion 140, a few
function keys and ten keys are arranged.
[0067] Referring to FIG. 4, image forming apparatus 100 further
includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 166, a read only memory
(ROM) 172 for storing programs and the like, a hard disk 168 as a
non-volatile storage capable of storing programs and data even when
power is shut-off, and a random access memory (RAM) 174 for
providing a memory area when a program is executed.
[0068] Image forming apparatus 100 further includes a bus 176
connected to document reading unit 102, image forming unit 104, FAX
communication unit 160, network I/F 170, operation unit 120, CPU
166, ROM 172, hard disk 168 and RAM 174. CPU 166 loads a program
stored in hard disk 168 or the like to RAM 174 and executes the
program, and thereby controls various units and components of the
image forming apparatus and realizes various functions for image
formation.
[0069] Image forming apparatus 100 further includes a paper feed
unit 106 communicable with various units and components of image
forming apparatus 100 through bus 176, for executing paper feed
control related to image forming unit 104 in accordance with a
command from CPU 166, and a paper discharge device 108, also
connected to bus 176, for controlling discharge of recording paper
from image forming unit 104 in accordance with a command from CPU
166.
[0070] In hard disk 168, files of image data of documents scanned
by image forming apparatus 100 are stored, folder by folder, with
date of saving and name of the user who saved the data. Further,
initial screen data of various operational modes are stored in hard
disk 168.
[0071] ROM 172 stores programs and data necessary for controlling
the operations of image forming apparatus 100. As data to be stored
with programs in ROM 172, initial screen data of various
operational modes may be stored. CPU 166 controls image forming
apparatus 100 in accordance with the programs and data stored in
ROM 172, and executes control related to various functions of image
forming apparatus 100.
[0072] As shown in FIG. 4, FAX communication unit 160 of image
forming apparatus 100 is connected to a public line, and network
I/F 170 is connected to a network line. To the network line, a
computer or the like that uses image forming apparatus 100 as a
network compatible printer, or a computer or the like specified by
an URL (Uniform Resource Locator) designated by the Internet may be
connected. When connected to the Internet in this manner, image
forming apparatus 100 can obtain necessary information through the
Internet. As will be described later, the result of learning of
energy saving operation patterns and the energy saving operation
pattern of a specific day in image forming apparatus 100 can be
confirmed, modified or added, through a computer for the
administrator on the network, as will be described later.
[0073] RAM 174 provides a function as a working memory temporarily
storing results of operations and processes by CPU 166, and a
function as a frame memory for storing image data.
[0074] Document reading unit 102, image forming unit 104,
touch-panel display 130 and operation key portion 140 implementing
operation unit 120, paper discharge device 108, ROM 172, hard disk
168 and RAM 174 are controlled by CPU 166 executing a prescribed
program or programs. Operation unit 120 communicates with CPU 166
through input/output I/F.
[0075] Operation unit 120 is a plate-shaped panel, provided tilted
to be easily viewable by the user. On a surface of operation unit
120, touch-panel display 130 is provided on a left side area, and
operation key portion 140 is provided on a right side area.
Touch-panel display 130 and operation key portion 140 are formed
such that operation unit 120 as a whole is provided as an
integrated piece.
<Learning of Energy Saving Operation Patterns>
[0076] In the following, the process for learning energy saving
operation patterns of image forming apparatus 100 will be
described. Image forming apparatus 100 has the following
characteristics: it automatically learns energy saving operation
patterns based on job logs; it displays the result of learning in a
manner easily understandable by the user; it allows the user to set
an energy saving operation pattern; it can display the set user
mode together with the result of learning, in a manner easily
understandable by the user; and it allows advance registration of a
plurality of energy saving operation patterns that can be set by
the user.
[0077] Referring to FIG. 5, typically, image forming apparatus 100
communicates with a plurality of PCs 190, 192, 194 and the like
through network system 180, and executes printing in accordance
with a print request from these PCs, transmits a image scanned by
image forming apparatus 100 to a specific server, or transmits the
scanned image as a mail to a desired mail address. Here, details of
items not related to the setting of energy saving operation
patterns will not be described, for easier understanding.
[0078] Referring to FIG. 5, assume that PC 190 is for the
administrator of image forming apparatus 100, and PCs 192 and 194
are for general users. The display and setting of energy saving
operation patterns using Table 50 as described with reference to
FIG. 3 may be executed on operation unit 120 of image forming
apparatus 100, though it may be more convenient if the display and
setting can be changed also from PC 190 for the administrator.
Image processing apparatus 100 allows such a process.
[0079] FIG. 6 shows, as an energy saving setting unit 260, only the
functional portions related to the energy saving operational mode
related to the energy saving setting, extracted from image forming
apparatus 100. Referring to FIG. 6, energy saving setting unit 260
includes: a log obtaining unit 270 obtaining, as job logs, record
of operations of each functional unit of image forming apparatus
100; a log storage unit 272 storing job logs obtained by log
obtaining unit 270; an auto pattern updating unit 274 activated by
an externally applied trigger, for automatically updating a
schedule of energy saving operation pattern of image forming
apparatus 100; a timer 276 for periodically (for example, at 0:00
every day) triggering the schedule updating process by auto pattern
updating unit 274; and a pattern storage unit 278 storing the
schedule pattern of energy saving operation pattern formed
(updated) by auto pattern updating unit 274, and applying it to the
heating and fixing unit and the like of image forming unit 104.
Auto pattern updating unit 274 does not use job logs of a specific
time slot of a specific day of each month designated by the user,
when learning the energy saving patterns of respective days of the
week. Since the job logs of a specific time slot of a specific day
are excluded from the learning data for pattern update, influence
of the operation pattern of the specific time slot on the energy
saving operation patterns other than the specific time slot of
specific day can be prevented.
[0080] The energy saving operation pattern in the image forming
apparatus of the system in accordance with the present invention is
represented in four stages, day by day of the week and time-slot by
time-slot, as will be described below. These four stages are
indicated by numerical values 1, 2, 3 and 4. The energy saving
operation pattern includes seven records corresponding to the days
of the week. Each record consists of a name (identifier) of the
energy saving operation pattern to which the record belongs, a
value representing the day of the week, and a set of values
indicating the energy saving operation pattern slot by slot.
Consider, for example, an example of Monday shown in FIG. 3. The
portions representing the time-slot by time-slot energy saving
operation pattern of the record are "1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 4,
4, 3, 1, 2, 2, 4, 2, 3, 3, 3, 1, 1, 1, 1." If the energy saving
operation pattern is not yet established, such as at the time of
shipment of the apparatus, the value representing the energy saving
operation pattern assumes zero.
[0081] In the embodiment described in the following, a method in
which operating days of the image forming apparatus are classified
to seven first groups on weekly basis and the energy saving
operation pattern of each group is learned, and a method in which
operating days of the image forming apparatus are classified to 31
second groups based only on the date of year, month and date, and
by designating a specific group (that is, specific date), and the
energy saving operation pattern is designated manually, are both
used. These methods of classification are examples only, and other
methods of classification are also possible. By way of example, at
a place of business working in cycles of ten days, it is reasonable
to have ten first groups. At a place of business working in
bi-weekly cycles, it is reasonable to have fourteen first groups.
As to the second group, at a place of business in which specific
work is done every half year, for example, it is desirable to
classify the operating days to 6.times.31=186 groups. It is noted,
however, that the most common method is to classify the first group
based on the days of the week and the second group based only on
the date.
[0082] Log storage unit 272, pattern storage unit 278 and the like
are realized by hard disk 168 shown in FIG. 4.
[0083] Energy saving setting unit 260 further includes a web server
280 connected to network I/F 170. Web server 280 operates in image
forming apparatus 100, to allow settings related to various
functions of image forming apparatus 100 on a browser base from an
external PC. Web server 280 has a function of allocating processes
related to various external requests to appropriate programs or
processing units in accordance with parameters associated with each
request, and returning a web document as a result of processing to
a browser. Here, for simplicity of description, of the functional
blocks processing external requests through web server 280, those
not related to settings of energy saving operation patterns are not
shown.
[0084] Energy saving setting unit 260 further includes: a display
processing unit 286, responsive to an external request received
through web server 280, for reading an energy saving operation
pattern schedule currently set in image forming apparatus 100 from
pattern storage unit 278, and forming and returning a web document
for visually displaying the schedule; an update processing unit 288
receiving a request for changing contents of the schedule displayed
on an external PC through web server 280, for forming and returning
a web document for visually displaying the schedule of energy
saving operation patterns determined in accordance with the
request; and a registration processing unit 290, responsive to an
external request for setting a pattern of energy saving operation
schedule of image forming apparatus 100 received through web server
280, for writing the set pattern to pattern storage unit 278.
[0085] Energy saving setting unit 260 further includes: a user
pattern saving unit 292, processing a request by the user to form a
pattern of energy saving operation schedule using an external PC
through web server 280, and if saving of the pattern formed by the
user is designated, saving the pattern in a computer readable
format; a table update processing unit 294, when a user is forming
a pattern of an energy saving operation schedule on an external PC,
through web server 280, for forming and returning a web document
for rewriting display of the energy saving operation schedule on
the external PC in accordance with a user input; a user pattern
storage unit 284 for storing the user patterns saved by user
pattern saving unit 292 with a pattern name of each user pattern;
and a setting storage unit 282 for storing settings related to the
energy saving operation patterns of image forming apparatus 100,
including an auto flag indicating whether or not image forming
apparatus 100 is in an operational mode of automatically learning
the energy saving operation pattern, a pattern name if the current
energy saving operation pattern schedule is a user pattern, and
what process is to be done if no job log exists for some time
slots. Setting storage unit 282 can be looked up from various units
of energy saving setting unit 260, and each functional block
operates based on setting information stored in setting storage
unit 282. The information stored in setting storage unit 282
includes a method of calculating rate of operation used for
determining the transition time, and a rule for determining how the
energy saving pattern is to be determined based on the rate of
operation.
[0086] Table 1 below shows a method of calculating the rate of
operation of image forming apparatus of the system in accordance
with the present embodiment. Table 2 shows the calculated rate of
operation, the name of energy saving pattern adopted in accordance
with the rate of operation, and the operation (transition time and
the state after transition) corresponding to each energy saving
pattern.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Rate of operation Outputs/hour Job
number/hour Wait time/hour High 300 or more 24 or more Shorter than
10 min. Relatively high At least 50 and At least 12 and At least 10
and smaller than 300 smaller than 24 shorter than 30 min. Middle At
least 10 and At least 6 and At least 30 and smaller than 50 smaller
than 12 shorter than 50 min. Low Smaller than 10 Smaller than 6 At
least 50 min.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Pattern name Operation Rate of operation
High performance Suspend after 1 hour High Performance Suspend
after 30 min. Relatively high Balance Shut-off after 5 min. Middle
Power saving Shut-off in shortest Low time after job end
[0087] The auto flag represents the auto mode if it is 1 and manual
mode if it is 0. It is desirable that 1 is set as a default value
of the auto flag. The reason for this is that after the apparatus
is installed actually until the administrator becomes able to grasp
the operational status, automatic learning of the energy saving
operation patterns is desirable.
[0088] Energy saving setting unit 260 further has: a function of
allowing the user to set a specific day; a function allowing a user
to set an energy saving operation pattern of the specific day
(hereinafter referred to as the "specific day pattern"), a function
allowing the user to set a holiday; a function of forming a default
pattern for the specific day pattern; and a function of learning,
when weekly energy saving operation patterns are to be learned from
logs, excluding the logs of the day registered as the specific day
from the data for learning.
[0089] Specifically, energy saving setting unit 260 further
includes: a specific day setting screen generating unit 302 for
generating a setting screen (FIGS. 9 to 11) for setting the
specific day; a specific day registering unit 300 for registering a
specific day through interaction with the user using a specific day
registration screen 680 shown in FIG. 9; a holiday registering unit
298 for registering a holiday using a holiday registration screen
830 shown in FIG. 11; and a specific day pattern registering unit
296 for registering a specific day pattern determining an energy
saving operation for the specific day using a specific day pattern
registration screen 720 shown in FIG. 10. These processes are
selectively executed based on form data received by web server 280,
under the control of web server 280. Each processing unit executes
the designated process and, thereafter, transmits a screen
representing the process result to a web browser of the counterpart
terminal, to be displayed thereon. The screens output by specific
day registering unit 300, holiday registering unit 298, and
specific day pattern registering unit 296 are specific day
registration screen 680, holiday registration screen 830 and
specific day pattern registration screen 720 shown in FIGS. 9, 11
and 10, respectively.
[0090] Energy saving setting unit 260 further includes: a specific
day information storage unit 304, connected to specific day pattern
registering unit 296, holiday registering unit 298, specific day
registering unit 300 and specific day setting screen generating
unit 302, for storing the specific day pattern information, holiday
information and specific day information, set by using specific day
pattern registering unit 296, holiday registering unit 298 and
specific day registering unit 300; and a default pattern generating
unit 306, responsive to reception of a request for generating a
default pattern of the specific day from specific day pattern
registering unit 296, based on the job logs stored in log storage
unit 272 and specific day information stored in specific day
information storage unit 304, for reading logs of the day
corresponding to the specific day of last month, generating a
default energy saving operation pattern for the specific day and
returning it to specific day pattern registering unit 296.
[0091] Referring to FIG. 7, job log 320 stored in log storage unit
272 generally records, job by job, a job ID (identifier), a job
mode, name of the computer which entered the job and its user name,
log-in name of the user, start date and time and end date and time
when image forming apparatus 100 started and ended the job, day of
the week when the job was started, and the number of sheets printed
by the job. The function of collecting such job logs 320 is
provided as a standard function in recent general image forming
apparatuses, not only in image forming apparatus 100. Such job logs
may be used to find the cause of malfunction of the image forming
apparatus in case the apparatus fails, by confirming the past
operations, to study which functions are to be enhanced at the next
replacement by confirming job types, or to monitor which user uses
the image forming apparatus at what frequency and consumes how much
paper. In the system in accordance with the present embodiment, job
logs 320 as such are used for learning the energy saving operation
patterns.
[0092] FIG. 8 shows the energy saving setting screen for setting
the energy saving operation pattern in image forming apparatus 100
in accordance with the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 8, the
energy saving setting screen includes: a registration button 350,
an update button 352, a mode selection radio buttons 354 and a
pull-down menu 356 for setting the user pattern name, displayed at
a header portion, and an energy saving operation pattern table 358
for visually displaying the energy saving operation pattern
currently set in image forming apparatus 100 in the similar manner
as the example of FIG. 3, displayed at the central portion.
[0093] At a tail portion of the screen, a check box 360 allowing
the user to set whether a user pattern edition is to be done, a
pull-down menu 362 for selecting the energy saving mode, a
pull-down menu 364 for selecting a day of the week, a start time
pull-down menu 366 and an end time pull-down menu 368 for
designating the time slot as the object of setting, which are
activated if check box 360 is checked, and a table update button
370 for outputting an instruction to update display of energy
saving operation pattern table 358 in accordance with conditions
designated by these components, are displayed. Further below these
components, a pattern name field 372 for the user to input a
pattern name when the user pattern is to be saved, a save button
374 used for instructing saving of the user pattern, a registration
button 380 and update button 382 are displayed.
[0094] At upper and lower portions of the screen shown in FIG. 8,
buttons 660 and 662 are arranged, for calling a screen (specific
day operation setting screen) allowing registration of information
related to settings of operations of image forming apparatus 100 on
a specific day. The specific day information registration screen
includes specific day registration screen 680 shown in FIG. 9,
specific day pattern registration screen 720 shown in FIG. 10 and
holiday registration screen 830 shown in FIG. 11.
[0095] Referring to FIG. 9, specific day registration screen 680
includes: a tab area 690 on which tabs allowing switching among
panels of specific day registration screen 680, specific day
pattern registration screen 720 and holiday registration screen 830
are displayed; a registration button 692 for instructing
registration of the input specific day information in specific day
information storage unit 304 (FIG. 6) in image forming apparatus
100; and first, second and third specific day information
designating areas 694, 696 and 698, for registering up to three
specific days.
[0096] Tab area 690 includes: a specific day tab 710 for displaying
specific day registration screen 680; a pattern tab 712 for
displaying specific day pattern registration screen 720; and a
holiday tab 714 for displaying holiday registration screen 830.
[0097] The first, second and third specific day information
designating areas 694, 696 and 698 all have the same configuration.
Therefore, first specific day information designating area 694 will
be described as a representative, in the following.
[0098] The first specific day information designating area 694
includes: a check box 730 for designating whether or not a first
specific day is to be registered; a specific day setting area 732
for entering information specifying the specific day; a pull-down
menu 734 for selecting an operation pattern (specific day pattern)
of image forming apparatus 100 for the specific day from a number
of predetermined specific day patterns and a default pattern (a
pattern automatically set by image forming apparatus 100), which
will be described later; and a holiday operation designating area
736 for designating whether the specific day is to be moved
forward, to be postponed, or to cancel holiday operation, if the
specific day falls on a holiday.
[0099] Specific day setting area 732 includes: two radio buttons
for selecting whether a specific day of every month is to be
designated by the date itself or to be designated as end of month;
and a pull-down menu for selecting the date, if it is to be
designated by the date.
[0100] Holiday operation designating area 736 includes three radio
buttons for selecting whether the designation of the specific day
is to be moved forward, postponed, or cancelled, if the specific
day falls on a holiday.
[0101] Referring to FIG. 10, specific day pattern registration
screen 720 includes, in addition to specific day tab 710, pattern
tab 712, holiday tab 714 and registration button 692, a pattern
identification area 750 for designating the number of the specific
day pattern and the name of the specific day pattern, a pattern
display area 752 for displaying the contents of set specific day
pattern, and a schedule setting area 754 for designating, for each
of time slots provided by dividing one day into 24 hours, which of
five possible operational modes is to be applied, where the five
possible operational modes include the pre-set four operational
modes and the setting designated by the method of the system in
accordance with the present embodiment for the week. At the
lowermost portion of specific day pattern registration screen 720,
a registration button 756 having the same function as registration
button 692 is displayed.
[0102] Pattern identification area 750 includes a pull-down menu
770 for selecting first to fifth specific day patterns as the
object of setting, and a text field 772 for entering the pattern
name of the specific day pattern as the object of setting. In the
present embodiment, the pattern name is limited to up to 20
single-byte or double-byte characters.
[0103] Pattern display area 752 includes: a schedule display area
790 displaying operational mode schedule, for 24 hours on hourly
basis, of the specific day pattern as the object of setting; a
pull-down menu 792 for designating a specific day pattern if any
specific day pattern usable as a source for the specific day
pattern as the object of setting exists; and a copy execution
button 794 used by the user when the specific day pattern
designated by pull-down menu 792 is to be copied as the specific
day pattern of the object of setting. As will be described later,
pull-down menu 792 displays not only the first to fifth specific
day patterns but also the number of a default pattern automatically
generated when a specific day is newly designated.
[0104] Schedule setting area 754 includes: a pull-down menu 812 for
designating a start time of the time slot as the object; a
pull-down menu 814 for designating an end time; and five radio
buttons 810 for designating the energy saving operational mode to
be set to the time slot designated by the pull-down menus 812 and
814. The operational modes that can be set by five radio buttons
810 include first and second job start priority modes, first and
second energy saving priority modes and an operational mode in
accordance with weekly setting.
[0105] In the first job start priority mode, if image forming
apparatus 100 is left without any operation for one hour after
image forming apparatus 100 was last used, the operational mode of
image forming apparatus 100 is changed to auto power shut-off. In
the second job start priority mode, if image forming apparatus 100
is left without any operation for 30 minutes after image forming
apparatus 100 was last used (that is, in the absence of any event
of operation), the operational mode of image forming apparatus 100
is changed to auto power shut-off. In the first power saving
priority mode, if image forming apparatus 100 is left without any
operation for five minutes after image forming apparatus 100 was
last used, the operational mode of image forming apparatus 100 is
changed to auto power shut-off. In the second power saving priority
mode, when any operation on image forming apparatus 100 ends, the
operational mode of image forming apparatus 100 is changed to auto
power shut-off in shortest possible time period. In the operational
mode in accordance with the weekly setting, image forming apparatus
100 is operated in accordance with the weekly schedule set by the
similar process as executed in image forming apparatus 100 in the
system in accordance with the present embodiment.
[0106] Schedule setting area 754 further includes a schedule
addition button 816 operated by the user if the operational mode of
a time slot set by pull-down menus 812 and 814 of the specific day
pattern designated by pattern identification area 750 is to be set
to the operational mode designated by radio button 810. By
selecting the time slot as the object of processing using pull-down
menus 812 and 814, selecting the operational mode to be set using
radio button 810 and pressing addition button 816, then, of the
schedule displayed on schedule display area 790, that portion which
is designated by pull-down menus 812 and 814 is changed to the
color corresponding to the operational mode selected by radio
button 810.
[0107] Referring to FIG. 11, holiday registration screen 830
includes: specific day tab 710; pattern tub 712; holiday tab 714; a
button 840 for displaying a list of holidays; a day of the week
designating area 842 for designating a day of the week to be the
holiday; a registration button 862 for registering the holiday
designated by the day of the week in specific day information
storage unit 304; a period designating area 844 for designating
specific days one by one in a prescribed time period; and a
registration button 890 for storing the specific days designated by
period designating area 844 as holidays in specific day information
storage unit 304.
[0108] On day of the week designating area 842, seven check boxes
860 are displayed, for designating whether each day of the week
should be designated as a holiday.
[0109] Period designating area 844 includes: a pull-down menu 880
for designating, on the basis of three-months unit, the period in
which holidays are to be designated; a last registration time field
882 displaying the date and time when the holiday of the period
designated by pull-down menu 880 was registered last time; a
check-box columns in which check boxes for designating each day to
be a holiday or not, for each day in the three months designated by
pull-down menu 880; an all select button 886 for checking all check
boxes displayed in check box columns 884; and a selection cancel
button 888 for cancelling checking of all check boxes.
[0110] Referring to FIG. 12, a holiday list screen 910 displayed
when button 840 shown in FIG. 11 is pressed includes: OK buttons
920 and 926 for closing this screen; an area 922 for displaying
holidays designated by days of the week; and an area 924 for
displaying holidays designated individually by designating the
period.
[0111] Referring to FIG. 13, specific day information 940 stored in
specific day information storage unit 304 (see FIG. 6) includes:
three specific day information records 950 for storing information
related to three specific days; specific day pattern records 952
storing information related to four specific day patterns; a day of
the week flag record 954 storing whether or not each day of the
week is designated as a holiday; and periodic holiday records 956
storing holidays designated individually by designating a period,
for 24 months, on three-months basis.
[0112] Specific day information records 950 are to store
information designated by specific day registration screen 680
(FIG. 9). Each record of specific day information records 950
includes: a use flag indicating if the specific day corresponding
to the record is designated; the date of specific day; the number
of specific day pattern used for the specific day; a holiday
operation flag indicating whether the specific day is to be moved
forward, postponed or cancelled if the specific day falls on a
holiday; and a date of last update of the specific day information
record 950. The date of specific day is designated by any of 1 to
31 or 99. Namely, 1 to 31 indicates the designated date, and 99
indicates end of month. The holiday operation flag is indicated by
any of three values from 0 to 2, where 0, 1 and 2 represent moving
forward, postpone and cancel of the specific day, respectively.
[0113] Specific day pattern records 952 are for storing information
set by specific day pattern registration screen 720 (FIG. 10). Each
record includes pattern number (1 to 4) of the specific day
pattern, pattern name, a sequence of hourly operational patterns of
the designated pattern, and date of last update of the pattern.
[0114] Day of the week flag record 954 is for storing information
set by a day of the week designating area 842, of holiday
registration screen 830 (FIG. 11). Day of the week flag record 954
includes seven flags prepared for respective days of the week to
indicate whether it is a holiday.
[0115] Periodic holiday records 956 are for storing information set
by a period designating area 844 of holiday registration screen 830
(FIG. 11). Each record of periodic holiday records 956 includes
day-by-day holiday arrangement of the first, second and third
months corresponding to the record, and information of the date and
time of last registration.
[0116] <Program Configuration>
[0117] In the following, for simplicity of description, a
configuration will be described assuming that the energy saving
operation pattern of image forming apparatus 100 is set from an
external PC through web server 280. It is noted, however, that the
energy saving pattern can be set through an interactive process
using touch-panel display 130 of image forming apparatus 100 based
on the same concept. If touch-panel display 130 of image forming
apparatus 100 is used to activate a browser and to access to web
server 280, a program for stand-alone settings in image forming
apparatus 100 is unnecessary.
[0118] Referring to FIG. 14, the program for realizing display
processing unit 286 shown in FIG. 6 is called and activated from a
menu screen displayed when the web server of image forming
apparatus 100 is logged-in. The program includes: a step 330 of
reading a setting related to the energy saving operation pattern
among the settings of image forming apparatus 100, from setting
storage unit 282; a step 332 of outputting the header portion of
screen shown in FIG. 8; a step 334 of reading a schedule of the
energy saving operation pattern currently being executed by image
forming apparatus 100 from pattern storage unit 278; a step 336 of
forming and outputting a document for displaying energy saving
operation pattern table 358 of FIG. 8 based on the information read
at step 334; and a step 338 outputting the tail portion of the
screen shown in FIG. 8 and ending the process.
[0119] In the system in accordance with the present embodiment, the
program is configured such that the document transmitted by the
program through web server 280 to the PC will be a web document
and, therefore, the screen shown in FIG. 8 can be viewed on the PC
using a common web browser.
[0120] Referring to FIG. 15, the program routine of step 336 shown
in FIG. 14 is also called by a process other than the present
process and, therefore, it will be described here as a sub-routine.
If this process is realized by a program language of script type
format, it is preferred that actually this portion of the program
is prepared as an independent file and at the time of execution,
scripts in the file are included in another program.
[0121] The program includes: a step 400 of outputting a table start
tag for displaying energy saving operation pattern table 358 on the
web document; a step 402 of repeating steps 404, 406, 408, 410 and
412, which will be described later, for every time slot, to form
the body of the table; and a step 414 of ending the process by
outputting a table end tag, when repetition of step 402 is
completed.
[0122] The process executed for each time slot at step 402
includes: a step 404 of outputting a start tag of a row displaying
information of the time slot; a step 406 of outputting characters
representing the time slot; a step 408 of repeating the following
step 410 for each day of the week from Monday to Sunday, to form
one row of the table related to a specific time slot; and a step
412 of outputting a row end tag indicating an end of a row formed
at step 408. At step 410, start tag and end tag for each cell are
output and, at that time, information for designating cell width to
a fixed value, and information for designating cell background
color in accordance with the energy saving operation pattern
allocated to the time slot of the day of the week, are embedded in
the start tag.
[0123] By executing the program shown in FIG. 15, such a display as
represented by energy saving operation pattern table 358 shown in
FIG. 8 can be realized.
[0124] (Registration Program)
[0125] The registration program shown in FIG. 16 is activated by
web server 280 when registration button 350 or 380 shown in FIG. 8
is pressed. Here, parameters in accordance with a value set for
each element on the screen of FIG. 8 are passed as arguments to the
program. The arguments includes: information as to whether auto
mode or manual mode is designated as the operational mode; a user
pattern name selected if the manual mode is selected; a flag (state
of check box 360) indicating whether or not a user pattern is to be
edited; and an energy saving pattern name (a result of selection of
pull-down menu 362 for selecting the energy saving mode), day of
the week (a result of selection of pull-down menu 364 for selecting
the day of the week), a start time (start time pull-down menu 366)
and an end time (end time pull-down menu 368) of the time slot as
the object of setting, which become effective if check box 360 is
checked. Information of the pattern name field 372 is not passed to
this program.
[0126] The registration program includes: a step 420 of determining
whether the auto mode or manual mode is designated, based on the
argument; a step 422 executed if the auto mode is designated, of
storing 1 in the auto flag of setting storage unit 282; and a step
424 of executing an auto pattern updating process (process by auto
pattern updating unit 274 shown in FIG. 6) to update the energy
saving operation pattern based on the latest job log.
[0127] The program further includes: a step 426, executed if it is
determined at step 420 that the operational mode is not the auto
mode, of storing 0 in the auto flag of setting storage unit 282 of
FIG. 6; a step 428 of reading the user pattern designated by the
user from user pattern storage unit 284 shown in FIG. 6 and writing
it in pattern storage unit 278, based on the argument; and a step
430 of storing the pattern name of the written user pattern in
setting storage unit 282.
[0128] In this program, after steps 424 and 430, the control flows
are merged and a step 432 of reading the energy saving operation
pattern that is currently being executed, stored in pattern storage
unit 278 is executed. The program further includes: a step 434 of
outputting the header portion of energy saving setting screen shown
in FIG. 8 based on the result of step 432 and on setting conditions
stored in setting storage unit 282; a step 436 of forming energy
saving operation pattern table 358; and a step 438 of outputting
the tail portion and ending the process. What is executed at step
436 is the program shown in FIG. 15.
[0129] (User Pattern Saving Program)
[0130] The user pattern saving program shown in FIG. 17 is called
by web server 280 if save button 374 of FIG. 8 is pressed. At this
time, arguments passed to this program includes a specific value of
the energy saving pattern corresponding to the displayed energy
saving operation pattern table 358, and the user pattern name input
to pattern name field 372.
[0131] The program includes: a step 450 of determining, based on
the argument, whether or not the user pattern of the same name is
stored in user pattern storage unit 284 (see FIG. 6); a step 452,
executed if the same name exists, of updating the user pattern
having the same name as the input user pattern with the pattern
represented by the energy saving operation pattern table 358; a
step 454, executed if the same name does not exist, of adding the
pattern represented by the energy saving operation pattern table
358 to user pattern storage unit 284; and a step 456 of saving the
added pattern name to an index area of user pattern storage unit
284.
[0132] In this program, after steps 452 and 456, the control flows
are merged, and at step 458, the user pattern updated at step 452
or added at step 454 is read from user pattern storage unit 284.
Using the user pattern, the header portion is output (step 460),
the table is formed and output (step 462), the tail portion is
output (step 464), and the process ends. As a result of this
process, the user pattern designated by the user to be saved is
saved in user pattern storage unit 284, and on the energy saving
setting screen, the energy saving operation pattern table 358 in
accordance with the saved user pattern is displayed.
[0133] (Pattern Update)
[0134] Referring to FIG. 18, the program realizing update
processing unit 288 shown in FIG. 6 is activated when update button
352 or 382 shown in FIG. 8 is pressed. The program includes: a step
480 of determining whether the designated operational mode is an
auto mode or manual mode; a step 482, executed if the designated
operational mode is the auto mode, of reading the energy saving
operation pattern that is being executed from pattern storage unit
278; a step 484, executed if the designated operational mode is the
manual mode (if the determination at step 480 is negative), of
determining whether or not a user pattern having the pattern name
as an argument from pull-down menu 356 for setting the user pattern
exists in user pattern storage unit 284; a step 486, executed if
the user pattern of the designated pattern name exists, of reading
the pattern from user pattern storage unit 284; and a step 500,
executed if the user pattern of the designated pattern name does
not exist, of outputting a header portion indicating an error.
[0135] In this program, after steps 482 and 486, the control flows
are merged, and at step 488, the header portion is output.
Thereafter, at step 502, the table is formed and output, the tail
portion is output at step 504, and execution of the program ends.
If the user pattern of the designated pattern name does not exist
(if determination at step 484 is negative), after executing step
500, the control flow is merged with step 502.
[0136] (Table Updating Program)
[0137] Referring to FIG. 19, the program for realizing table update
processing unit 294 of FIG. 6 is activated when table update button
370 of FIG. 8 is pressed. In FIG. 8, pull-down menu 362 for
selecting the energy saving mode, pull-down menu 364 for selecting
a day of the week, pull-down menu 366 for the start time, pull-down
menu 368 for the end time and table update button 370 are active
only when check box 360 is checked. If check box 360 is not
checked, these components are inactive and, hence, table update
button 370 cannot be pressed and the program shown in FIG. 19 is
not executed. When the program is activated, table data, energy
saving pattern name, day of the week, start time and end time as
the source of energy saving operation pattern table 358 are passed
as arguments from web server 280.
[0138] The program includes: a step 520 of replacing the energy
saving operation pattern of a range designated by the start time
and end time of the day of the week designated by the arguments, of
the energy saving operation pattern data shown in energy saving
operation pattern table 358, with the energy saving operation
pattern indicated by the energy saving pattern name; a step 522 of
outputting the header portion based on the energy saving operation
pattern data updated in this manner; a step 524 of forming and
outputting energy saving operation pattern table 358; and a step
526 of outputting the tail portion and ending the process.
[0139] (Auto Pattern Update Program)
[0140] Referring to FIG. 20, the program for realizing auto pattern
updating unit 274 shown in FIG. 6 is executed periodically, using
timer 276 shown in FIG. 6. In the system of the present embodiment,
even if the auto flag is 0, that is, even if the apparatus is in a
mode in which energy saving operation pattern is not automatically
learned from the operational status of image forming apparatus 100,
the auto pattern updating process is executed and the results are
saved. By this approach, it becomes possible to display the energy
saving operation pattern updated in accordance with the actual
operational status even if the apparatus is operating in the manual
mode, and the administrator can use it as a reference when setting
image forming apparatus 100.
[0141] The program includes: a step 540 of reading, using date and
time of job logs stored in log storage unit 272 as a key, all job
logs of immediately preceding specific time period (for example,
one week); a step 970 of determining whether or not there is a
designation of a specific day, with reference to specific day
information records 950 shown in FIG. 13, and branching the control
flow depending on the result of determination; a step 972, executed
if the determination at step 970 is positive, of reading specific
day pattern record 952, day of the week flag record 954, and
periodic holiday records 956 shown in FIG. 13, and using only the
job logs of days not designated as the specific day and only the
job logs of a time slot or time slots set to "follow weekly
schedule" of the job logs of the day designated as the specific
day, counting and collecting the number of outputs, number of jobs
and the wait time day by day of the week and time slot by time
slot; and a step 542 of counting the number of outputs of sheets of
recording paper, the number of processed jobs and the total wait
time day by day of the week and time slot by time slot, based on
the job logs read at step 540, and thereby calculating the rate of
operation.
[0142] At step 972, if a specific day is set, auto pattern updating
unit 274 further reads specific day pattern record 952, day of the
week flag record 954 and periodic holiday record 956 from specific
day information 940. Auto pattern updating unit 274 further
specifies a day, for which the specific day pattern is set and the
specific pattern is designated, based on the read information.
Here, the date of specific day information record 950 and the
information read from day of the week flag record 954 and periodic
holiday record 956 are referred to, to determine whether the day
designated as the specific day in specific day information record
950 falls on a holiday. If it is determined that the specific day
falls on a holiday, whether the specific day is to be moved
forward, postponed or cancelled is determined, by checking the
holiday operation flag of specific day information record 950.
[0143] After the day or days on which the specific day schedule is
to be executed are determined in this manner, auto pattern updating
unit 274 counts and collects, based on the logs obtained at step
540, the number of outputs, the number of jobs and wait time of
image forming apparatus 100 day by day of the week and time slot by
time slot, for the time slots set to "follow the weekly setting"
among the days on which the specific day schedule is to be executed
and all time slots of days not designated as specific day (step
972). From the result of this process, it is possible to calculated
the rate of operation of image forming apparatus 100, for each of
the time slots set to "follow the weekly schedule" of the specific
day and the time slots other than the specific day or days.
[0144] The program further includes: a step 544, executed following
step 972 or step 542, of repeating a process 546, which will be
described later, for each time slot of each day of the week; a step
562 of determining whether or not the auto flag stored in setting
storage unit 282 (see FIG. 6) is 1 or not; a step 564, executed if
the auto flag is 1, of updating the energy saving operation pattern
stored in pattern storage unit 278 with the energy saving operation
pattern formed at step 544, and ending the process; and a step 566,
executed if the auto flag is 0, of adding and storing the energy
saving operation pattern formed at step 544 as a back-up in user
pattern storage unit 284, and ending the process. The energy saving
operation pattern stored in user pattern storage unit 284 in this
manner can be handled in the similar manner as the user pattern,
though it is automatically learned.
[0145] The process 546 executed on each time slot of each day of
the week at step 544 executes, for each time slot of the day of the
week, steps 548, 550, 552, 554, 556, 558 and 560, which will be
described in the following.
[0146] Process 546 includes: a step 548 of determining whether the
number of outputs, the number of jobs and the wait time counted for
the time slot of the day of the week satisfies any of the
conditions to determine the rate of operation to be "high"; a step
556, executed if it is determined at step 548 that any of the
conditions is satisfied, of setting the energy saving operation
pattern of the corresponding time slot of the corresponding day of
the week to "high performance" and ending the process for the time
slot of the day of the week; a step 550, executed if it is
determined that none of the conditions is satisfied at step 548, of
determining whether or not the result of counting satisfies any of
the conditions to determine the rate of operation to be "relatively
high"; a step 552, executed if it is determined at step 550 that
any of the conditions is satisfied, of setting the energy saving
operation pattern of the corresponding time slot of the
corresponding day of the week to "performance" and ending the
process for the time slot of the day of the week; a step 552,
executed if it is determined that none of the conditions is
satisfied at step 550, of determining whether or not the result of
counting satisfies any of the conditions to determine the rate of
operation to be "middle"; a step 560, executed if it is determined
at step 552 that any of the conditions is satisfied, of setting the
energy saving operation pattern of the corresponding time slot of
the corresponding day of the week to "balance" and ending the
process for the time slot of the day of the week; and a step 554,
executed if it is determined that none of the conditions is
satisfied at step 552, of setting the energy saving operation
pattern of the corresponding time slot of the corresponding day of
the week to "power saving" and ending the process for the time slot
of the day of the week.
[0147] (Program for Generating Specific Day Setting Screen)
[0148] The program realizing the process of displaying the specific
day registration screen 680 shown in FIG. 9 when button 660 or 662
shown in FIG. 8 is pressed (corresponding to the function of
specific day setting screen generating unit 302) has the following
control structure. The program operates on the server side, and it
has a function of generating HTML source including scripts allowing
switching and displaying specific day registration screen 680 shown
in FIG. 9, specific day pattern registration screen 720 shown in
FIG. 10 and holiday registration screen 830 shown in FIG. 11, and
transmitting the source to a counterpart terminal through web
server 280.
[0149] Referring to FIG. 21, the program includes: a step 990 of
reading specific day information 940 (see FIG. 13) from specific
day information storage unit 304 shown in FIG. 6; a step 992 of
generating HTML source for displaying specific day registration
screen 680 (FIG. 9) based on the information read from specific day
information records 950 from the information read at step 990; a
step 994 of generating HTML source for displaying the specific
pattern registration screen 720 (FIG. 10) based on the information
read from specific day pattern records 952 from the information
read at step 990; a step 996 of generating HTML source for
displaying holiday registration screen 830 (see FIG. 11) based on
the information read from day of the week flag records 954 and
periodic holiday records 956 from the information read at step 990;
a step 998 of writing a specific variable and its value in HTML
document such that when the HTML source generated in this manner is
to be displayed using the browser of the counterpart terminal, the
script first displayed by specific day registration screen 680 is
executed; and a step 1000 of transmitting the HTML source form
generated in this manner through the web server to the counterpart
terminal and ending the process.
[0150] Specific day registration screen 680 shown in FIG. 9,
specific day pattern registration screen 720 shown in FIG. 10 and
holiday registration screen 830 shown in FIG. 11 are each screen
displaying the HTML source consisting of one or a plurality of
forms. In each form, a file name of a program to be executed next
through web server 280 when a prescribed button in the form is
pressed is described. When the button is pressed, the file name to
be executed next is transmitted to the web server together with the
data to be processed by the program, and processed. Such a process
is well known as a form process by the web server.
[0151] Switching among specific day registration screen 680,
specific day pattern registration screen 720 and holiday
registration screen 830 is executed by pressing specific day tab
710, pattern tab 712 and holiday tab 714, as described above. This
switching is realized by classifying UI components forming
respective screens to groups, and setting property of each UI
component such that when a certain tab is pressed, only the UI
components of the screen corresponding to the tab are displayed and
UI components of other screens are not displayed. This process is
realized by a script executed on the browser on the terminal side.
It is noted, however, that the script itself is formed by image
forming apparatus 100 in the program shown in FIG. 21 and embedded
in the HTML source.
[0152] It is also possible to form specific day registration screen
680, specific day pattern registration screen 720 and holiday
registration screen 830 by separate programs. In that case, when
each of the tabs is pressed on the browser of counterpart terminal,
the corresponding program is activated in image forming apparatus
100, and the screen corresponding to the pressed tab is transmitted
to the browser of the counterpart terminal.
[0153] Specific day pattern registration screen 720 of FIG. 10, and
holiday registration screen 830 of FIG. 11 can be realized based on
the same concept as a master maintenance program of a common
system. In the present embodiment, however, specific day
registration screen 680 shown in FIG. 9 may involve a process for
generating a default specific day pattern to assist the user in
forming the specific day pattern, in addition to the common process
of master maintenance.
[0154] An operator setting the specific day and the specific time
slot must designate the specific day and specific date and time, as
well as an operation pattern of the date and time. Though the
specific day and specific time slot can be set relatively easily,
it is not always clear for the operator what operation pattern is
good for the date and time. In consideration of such a situation,
in the present embodiment, image forming apparatus 100
automatically provides a fairly appropriate default operation
pattern. Since image forming apparatus 100 has such a function,
burden on the operator can be alleviated. Further, since the
default values are obtained by processing job logs, values not
exactly matching the operator's intention but "pretty close" can be
set.
[0155] Here, in the present embodiment, the specific day is
designated on monthly basis, as described above. Therefore,
different from a common energy saving operation patterns that are
counted weekly, the default patterns must be counted monthly. A
control structure of a program executing such a process will be
described with reference to FIGS. 22 and 23.
[0156] Specifically, as a method of realizing this process, an item
"default setting" is provided in pull-down menu 734, on specific
day registration screen 680 of FIG. 9 described above. If the user
selects "default setting" of pull-down menu 734 and presses
registration button 692, a default operation pattern is generated
by the program of which control structure will be described in the
following, and it is set as the operation pattern of the designated
specific day.
[0157] (Registration of Specific Day)
[0158] The program of which control structure is shown in FIG. 22
(realizing the function corresponding to specific day registering
unit 300 of FIG. 6) is executed in image forming apparatus 100,
when the user presses registration button 692 on specific day
registration screen 680. Referring to FIG. 22, the program
includes: a step 1020 of determining whether or not a check box 730
(see FIG. 9) of a first specific day is checked or not, and if it
is not checked, skipping the process for the first specific day and
proceeding to the process of a second specific day; a step 1022,
executed if the result of determination at step 1020 is positive,
of determining whether or not the default menu is designated by
pull-down menu 734; and a step 1024, executed if the determination
at step 1022 is positive, of executing a prescribed routine (as
will be described later) to generate a default pattern for the
first specific day (realizing the function corresponding to default
pattern generating unit 306 of FIG. 6). To the default pattern
generated here, a tentative pattern number is allocated, and the
corresponding specific day pattern record is temporarily generated.
If the determination at step 1022 is negative, the control proceeds
to step 1026. Similarly, if the determination at step 1022 is
negative and the execution of step 1024 ends, the control proceeds
to step 1026. At step 1026, the record of first specific day is
updated in accordance with an input. Here, if any of the specific
day patterns is designated by pull-down menu 734, the specific day
pattern is input to the "used pattern number" of specific day
information record 950. If the default pattern is designated by
pull-down menu 734, the tentative pattern number generated at step
1024 is designated as the "used number."
[0159] When the process at step 1026 ends, the control proceeds to
step 1028. If the determination at step 1020 is negative, the
control also proceeds to step 1028. At step 1028, the process
similar to the steps 1020 to 1026 is executed on the second
specific day. The object of processing here is the information
input to the second specific day information designating area 696
of FIG. 9.
[0160] If the process on the second specific day ends in the
similar manner, the process for the third specific day is executed
at step 1030. The object of processing is information input to the
third specific day information designating area 698 of FIG. 9.
[0161] When step 1030 ends, at step 1032, specific day registration
screen 680 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed with the contents
reflecting the results of processing at steps 1020 to 1030. If
default patterns are designated, the patterns must be modified by
specific day pattern registration screen 720 shown in FIG. 10 and
allocated to the first to fifth specific day patterns. Therefore, a
message to that effect is displayed on the screen of FIG. 9, and
pattern numbers allocated tentatively to the default patterns may
be emphasized. Looking at the tentative pattern numbers, the
operator designates the tentative pattern numbers in pull-down menu
792 of FIG. 10 and clicks copy execution button 794, whereby it is
possible to set the first to fifth specific day patterns to initial
values in accordance with the designated default pattern and to
modify them to desired patterns.
[0162] The default pattern or patterns formed in this manner must
be erased at some stage. Possible timing of deletion may be when
the default pattern number is no longer stored in any of the
specific day pattern numbers of the first to third specific
days.
[0163] Referring to FIG. 23, at step 1024 of FIG. 22, a program
having such a control structure as described below is executed.
Referring to FIG. 23, at step 1050, of the job logs stored in log
storage unit 272 shown in FIG. 6, logs of past one month are read.
At the next step S1052, for each time slot of a day corresponding
to the day designated as the specific day, the number of outputs
from image forming apparatus 100, the number of jobs processed by
image forming apparatus 100, and wait time of image forming
apparatus 100 are counted, respectively. Thereafter, at step 1054,
a prescribed process is done for each time slot.
[0164] The process executed for each time slot at step 1054
includes: a step 1056 of determining whether or not the result of
counting in the time slot as the object of processing among the
results of counting at step 1052 satisfies any of the conditions to
determine the rate of operation to "high"; a step 1058, executed if
it is determined at step 1056 that any of the conditions is
satisfied, of setting the energy saving operation pattern of the
corresponding time slot to "high performance" and ending the
process for the time slot; a step S1060, executed if it is
determined at step 1056 that none of the conditions is satisfied,
of determining whether or not the result of counting satisfies any
of the conditions to determine the rate of operation to "relatively
high"; a step 1062, executed if it is determined at step 1060 that
any of the conditions is satisfied, of setting the energy saving
operation pattern of the corresponding time slot to "performance"
and ending the process for the time slot; a step 1064, executed if
it is determined at step 1060 that none of the conditions is
satisfied, of determining whether or not the result of counting
satisfies any of the conditions to determine the rate of operation
to "middle"; a step 1066, executed if it is determined at step 1064
that any of the condition is satisfied, of setting the energy
saving operation pattern of the corresponding time slot to
"balance" and ending the process for the time slot; and a step
1068, executed if it is determined at step 1064 that none of the
conditions is satisfied, of setting the energy saving operation
pattern of the corresponding time slot to "power saving" and ending
the process for the time slot.
[0165] If the process steps 1056 to 1068 are completed for every
time slot at step 1054, at step 1070, a tentative pattern number is
allocated to the resulting pattern and the pattern is output to
pattern storage unit 278 of FIG. 6, and its file name with its path
and the pattern number are output to specific day information
storage unit 304, and the process ends. The tentative pattern
number is returned to the main routine shown in FIG. 22, and input,
for example, as the pattern number of the first specific day at
step 1026.
[0166] <<Operation>>
[0167] Image forming apparatus 100 operates in the following
manner. In the following description, of various functions of image
forming apparatus 100, only the operations related to energy saving
setting unit 260 will be described, and description of other common
functions will not be repeated.
[0168] <<Log Collection>>
[0169] When image forming apparatus 100 is powered on, log
obtaining unit 270 starts to obtain job logs of image forming
apparatus 100. The job logs are stored in log storage unit 272.
[0170] <Pattern Auto Update Process>
[0171] Timer 276 counts time and activates auto pattern updating
unit 274 once every hour.
[0172] Referring to FIG. 20, auto pattern updating unit 274 obtains
logs of immediately preceding prescribed time period (in the system
of the present embodiment, one week) from log storage unit 272
(step 540), and executes the following process. First, auto pattern
updating unit 274 counts the number of outputs, the number of jobs
and the wait time of image forming apparatus 100 day by day of the
week and time slot by time slot (step 542). From the results of
this process, the rate of operation can be calculated. Further, for
each of the day of the week from Monday to Sunday, steps 548 to 554
are repeated. By this process, the energy saving operation pattern
of each time slot of each day of the week is set.
[0173] Thereafter, at step 562, whether or not the auto flag is 1
is determined. If the result is positive, the energy saving
operation pattern stored in pattern storage unit 278 is updated
with the newly calculated energy saving operation pattern (step
564), and the process ends. If the result of determination at step
566 is negative, the newly calculated energy saving operation
pattern is stored as a backup pattern in user pattern storage unit
284 (step 566), and the process ends.
[0174] The updating process of pattern storage unit 278 is
completed in this manner.
[0175] <Display and Updating of Energy Saving Operation
Pattern>
[0176] When a user logs in to image forming apparatus 100 from PC
190 for the administrator shown in FIG. 5, for example, a menu for
the administrator of image forming apparatus 100 is displayed (not
shown) on the screen of PC 190 for the administrator. On this menu,
there is displayed an item "Display and Update of Energy Saving
Operation Pattern." If the user selects this item, the request is
applied through web server 280 shown in FIG. 6 to display
processing unit 286. Specifically, the program shown in FIG. 14 is
activated.
[0177] Display processing unit 286 first reads various settings
stored in setting storage unit 282 (step 330 of FIG. 14). The
settings include the table for calculating rate of operation, the
table for setting energy saving pattern, the auto flag, and the
energy saving operation pattern that is currently used. Thereafter,
display processing unit 286 forms the header portion of energy
saving setting screen shown in FIG. 5 based on the read settings,
and outputs the same (step 332). The output is transmitted through
web server 280 to PC 190 for the administrator, and displayed by
the web browser operating on PC 190 for the administrator. At step
334, display processing unit 286 reads the energy saving operation
pattern that is being currently executed from pattern storage unit
278 (step 334). In accordance with the read energy saving operation
pattern, at step 336, the display of energy saving operation
pattern table 358 shown in FIG. 8 is formed and output. The display
is also transmitted through web server 280 to PC 190 for the
administrator, and additionally displayed on the screen, by the
browser of PC 190 for the administrator. As a result, on the window
of the browser of PC 190 for the administrator, the header portion
and the energy saving operation pattern table 358 (see FIG. 8) are
displayed. Further, display processing unit 286 adds the tail
portion. This display is also applied through web server 280 to the
browser of PC 190 for the administrator, and displayed. As a
result, such a screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on PC 190 for
the administrator.
[0178] When the display data is formed, display processing unit 286
displays mode selection radio buttons 354 and pull-down menu 356
for setting user pattern name in accordance with the settings.
Check box 360 is not checked, and pull-down menu 362 for selecting
energy saving mode, pull-down menu 364 for selecting day of the
week, pull-down menu 366 for the start time and pull-down menu 368
for end time, as well as table update button 370 are inactive and
grayed-out.
[0179] Here, operations available to the user include (A) switching
between auto mode and manual mode (mode switching), (B) edition and
saving of user pattern, and (C) changing (registration) of energy
saving operation pattern to be set in image forming apparatus 100.
These options will be described in the following.
[0180] (A) Mode Switching
[0181] When the user switches the mode to be used, the user presses
the radio button of the mode to be selected, of the mode selection
radio buttons 354. If the selected mode is the manual mode,
further, the user selects which pattern is to be used, by pull-down
menu 356 for setting the user pattern name.
[0182] When the user presses update button 352, update processing
unit 288 shown in FIG. 6 is activated, and energy saving operation
pattern table 358 is updated in the following manner.
[0183] Referring to FIG. 18, at step 480, whether or not the
selected mode is the auto mode is determined. If the result is
positive, the energy saving operation pattern that is being
executed is read from pattern storage unit 278, and if the result
is negative, the user pattern designated by pull-down menu 356 for
setting user pattern name is read from user pattern storage unit
284.
[0184] After steps 482 and 486, control flows are merged, and at
step 488, the header portion is output. In accordance with the read
pattern, energy saving operation pattern table 358 is output at
step 502 in accordance with the read pattern, the tail portion is
output at step 504, and the process ends.
[0185] By this process, if the auto mode is designated, the energy
saving operation pattern learned from the logs is displayed on
energy saving operation pattern table 358, and if the manual mode
is designated, the designated user pattern is displayed on energy
saving operation pattern table 358.
[0186] (B) Edition and Saving of User Pattern
[0187] If the user clicks check box 360 while the schedule of
energy saving operation pattern is displayed on energy saving
operation pattern table 358, check box 360 is checked, and
pull-down menu 362 for selecting energy saving mode, pull-down menu
364 for selecting day of the week, pull-down menu 366 for the start
time and pull-down menu 368 for end time, as well as table update
button 370 are activated. This process is executed not on the
server side but on the web browser side of the client.
[0188] Of the cells displayed on energy saving operation pattern
table 358, the user designates the day of the cell of which setting
is desired by pull-down menu 364 for selecting day of the week,
designates the time slot by pull-down menu 366 for the start time
and pull-down menu 368 for end time, and sets the energy saving
pattern to be set for the cell by pull-down menu 362 for selecting
energy saving mode. Then, when the user presses table update button
370, table update request is transmitted to the server, and the
process for updating the table in accordance with the user input is
executed. Specifically, table update processing unit 294 shown in
FIG. 6 is activated, and the program shown in FIG. 19 is
executed.
[0189] Referring to FIG. 19, of the data currently displayed on
energy saving operation pattern table 358, to each cell of the day
and time slot designated by the user input, a value indicating the
designated energy saving pattern is input (step 520). Thereafter,
by steps 522, 524 and 526, the screen shown in FIG. 8 is again
formed with the modified values, and using web server 280, the thus
formed screen is displayed by the browser of the client.
[0190] If the user repeats the process described above and forms a
desired pattern, the user has the user pattern stored in user
pattern storage unit 284. For this purpose, the user displays a
desired user pattern name in pattern name field 372, and presses
save button 374 shown in FIG. 8. As a result, a request for saving
the user pattern is transmitted to web server 280, and user pattern
saving unit 292 is activated. User pattern saving unit 292 executes
the program shown in FIG. 17. It is noted that in pattern name
field 372, the user pattern name displayed on energy saving
operation pattern table 358 is displayed as a default.
[0191] Referring to FIG. 17, at step 450, whether or not the user
pattern having the same name as the user pattern name input by the
user has already been stored in user pattern storage unit 284 is
determined. If the result is positive, the user pattern having the
same name stored in user pattern storage unit 284 is updated with
the user pattern input by the user (step 452). If the result of
step 450 is negative, a new user pattern is added to user pattern
storage unit 284 (step 454), and the user pattern name designated
by the user is saved in the index of user pattern storage unit 284
(step 456).
[0192] After steps 452 and 456, the control flow merges, and the
pattern updated at step 452 or added at step 454 is read from user
pattern storage unit 284 (step 458), the energy saving setting
screen is formed in accordance with the pattern through steps 460,
462 and 464, and the formed screen is displayed by the browser of
PC 190 for the administrator.
[0193] Then, the process ends.
[0194] The edition and saving of the user pattern are completed in
the above-described manner.
[0195] (C) Setting of Energy Saving Operation Pattern
[0196] When the pattern called by update button 352 is to be set in
image forming apparatus 100, the user presses registration button
350. As a result, a request for registering the pattern is
transmitted to web server 280 shown in FIG. 6, and registration
processing unit 290 is activated. Registration processing unit 290
executes a program of which control structure is shown in FIG.
16.
[0197] Referring to FIG. 16, in the registration process, whether
the energy saving operational mode designated by the user is the
auto mode or not (manual mode) is determined (step 420). If the
result of determination is positive, the auto flag stored in
setting storage unit 282 is updated to 1 (step 422), and the auto
pattern updating process shown in FIG. 20 is executed (step 424).
If the result of determination at step 420 is negative, the auto
flag is updated to 0 (step 426), the user pattern designated by the
user is written to pattern storage unit 278 (step 428), and the
pattern name of the written pattern is saved as the name of the
pattern that is currently being executed, in setting storage unit
282.
[0198] After steps 424 and 430, the control flow merges, the
pattern that is currently being executed is read from pattern
storage unit 278 (step 432), the energy saving setting screen (FIG.
8) in accordance with the pattern is formed through steps 434, 436
and 438, and the screen is transmitted to the client. Then, the
process ends.
[0199] In the system of the present embodiment as such, the energy
saving operation pattern is automatically determined on weekly
basis. Since most of the business activities are on weekly basis,
determination of patterns week by week is reasonable. It is noted,
however, that not all business activities are on the weekly basis.
By way of example, a specific day of each month may be very busy
and, in that case, it may be better to specify the energy saving
operation pattern on monthly basis. Further, it may be necessary in
some cases to determine the energy saving operation pattern on
annual basis. If such a particular day exists, the energy saving
operation pattern determined on weekly basis may be irrelevant.
Therefore, for such a particular day, the energy saving operation
pattern may be set manually.
[0200] If the method of automatically learning the energy saving
operation patterns and the method of setting the energy saving
operation pattern manually for the specific day are used mixed with
each other, the accuracy of learning the energy saving operation
pattern undesirably decreases.
[0201] By way of example, a day of the week generally set to the
pattern having priority on energy saving operation (for example,
Wednesday) may become very busy if it is the end of the month. To
cope with such a situation, it may be possible to set the energy
saving operation pattern manually if the end of the month is
Wednesday.
[0202] This approach, however, leads to the following problem.
Assume that the end of the month happens to be Wednesday. Since end
of the month is a busy time, considerably large amount of logs are
recorded. When the time comes to automatically set the energy
saving pattern for Wednesdays, the logs of other Wednesdays (not so
busy) and the logs of this end-of-the-month Wednesday are read, and
based on these logs, the energy saving operation pattern for
Wednesdays is set. As a result, if a day of the week is generally
not so busy but end of the month happens to fall on that day of the
week during the period of log collection for setting the energy
saving operation pattern, the setting of energy saving operation
pattern could be deviated from the appropriate setting with
priority on energy saving to the setting with priority on
efficiency.
[0203] In order to realize energy saving in an efficient manner,
such a problem should be avoided. Operations required of the user
for this purpose should desirably be as simple as possible.
Further, there is also a problem of holidays in business
activities. In the example above, even if the end of the month
falls on Wednesday, the day may be not busy if it is a holiday of
the company. The day before the holiday, or the day after the
holiday may the busy day. The system could be busy even if it is a
holiday, depending on situations. In other words, there is a
problem of how to process the logs and to calculate the energy
saving pattern, if the specific day as described above falls on a
holiday.
[0204] Image forming apparatus 100 in accordance with the present
embodiment operates in the following manner to solve the
above-described problem.
[0205] <Registration of Specific Day>
[0206] When a user is to register a specific day, he/she accesses
the web server of image forming apparatus 100 from the browser of
PC 190, for example. Then, the energy saving setting screen shown
in FIG. 8 is displayed. The operation of image forming apparatus
100 when various UI components, other than buttons 660 and 662,
displayed on this screen are operated is the same as that of image
forming apparatus 100 of the system in accordance with the present
embodiment. Here, assume that the user clicks button 660 or
662.
[0207] By this operation, from the browser of PC 190 to web server
280 of image forming apparatus 100, a request designating a file
name of the program for realizing a specific day setting screen
generating unit 302 is transmitted. Receiving this request, web
server 280 selects a program executing module in accordance with
the extension of designated file name, and passes the file name to
the executing module. Receiving the file name, the executing module
reads the file designated by the file name from hard disk 168 (see
FIG. 4), and analyzes and executes scripts included in the file.
Depending on the executing module, the designated file may be a
binary object file.
[0208] The program related to button 660 or 662 is the one having
such a control structure as shown in FIG. 21. When CPU 166 (see
FIG. 4) executes the program, specific day setting screen
generating unit 302 of FIG. 6 is realized. Specifically, each of
the steps shown in FIG. 21 is executed by CPU 166, and the HTML
source for displaying specific day registration screen 680 shown in
FIG. 9 is formed and transmitted to the browser of PC 190. On the
browser of PC 190, specific day registration screen 680 shown in
FIG. 9 is displayed. Here, the HTML source transmitted from image
forming apparatus 100 to PC 190 includes not only the HTML source
for displaying specific day registration screen 680 but also the
HTML source for displaying specific day pattern registration screen
720 of FIG. 10 and holiday registration screen 830 of FIG. 11, as
well as scripts for switching the screens on the client side by
operating specific day tab 710, pattern tab 712 and holiday tab
714. In the state shown in FIG. 9, of these, only the UI components
forming specific day registration screen 680 are shown, and other
UI components are not displayed. If pattern tab 712 is pressed, the
UI components forming specific day registration screen 680 and
holiday registration screen 830 are hidden and only the UI
components forming specific day pattern registration screen 720 are
displayed. When holiday tab 714 is pressed, only the UI components
forming holiday registration screen 830 are displayed, and UI
components forming specific day registration screen 680 and
specific day pattern registration screen 720 are hidden.
[0209] Referring to FIG. 9, assume that the user checks check box
730, sets a specific day in specific day setting area 732, and
designates the "default pattern" using pull-down menu 734. Here, as
an operation when the specific day falls on a holiday, "move
forward" is selected. After setting these, the user clicks
registration button 692.
[0210] Registration button 692 is related to the program having the
control structure of FIG. 22, and a request designating the file
name of the program is transmitted from PC 190 to image forming
apparatus 100. In image forming apparatus 100, the program having
the control structure shown in FIG. 22 is executed. In this
example, through the path of steps 1020 and 1022, step 1024 is
executed.
[0211] At step 1024, the program having the control structure of
FIG. 23 is executed. Through steps 1050 and 1052, the job logs of
the specific day designated by specific day setting area 732 of
FIG. 9 (in this example, the corresponding day of the last month)
are read from job log storage unit 272 (see FIG. 6), and the job
logs are processed through steps 1054 to 1068, whereby a default
pattern is generated. To this default pattern, a tentative pattern
number is allocated as the pattern number and pattern name. At step
1024, the generated default pattern record is added to specific day
pattern records 952 of FIG. 13. At the following step 1026, on the
record corresponding to the first specific day among the specific
day information records 950 in specific day information storage
unit 304, the used flag (on), date, the tentative pattern number
allocated to the default pattern, the designated holiday operation
flag (in this example, "0"), and the date and time when the process
is executed, are recorded.
[0212] In this example, at steps 1028 and 1030, nothing is
generated. Finally, at step 1032, based on the updated information,
the process similar to that of FIG. 21 is executed again, and the
HTML source for displaying specific day registration screen 680
shown in FIG. 9 is generated and transmitted to PC 190.
[0213] If any of the patterns prepared in advance (the first to
fifth specific day patterns, the pattern entirely set to the second
energy saving priority mode (refer to the description of radio
button 810 of FIG. 10), and the pattern in which 8:00 to 18:00 are
in the first energy saving priority mode and 18:00 to 8:00 are in
the second energy saving priority mode) is selected, the process of
step 1024 is not executed. At step 1026, the designated pattern
number is input to "used pattern number" of specific day
information record 950 corresponding to the first specific day.
[0214] If the user wishes to modify the default pattern formed for
the first specific day, the user presses pattern tab 712 on
specific day registration screen 680 shown in FIG. 9. Then,
specific day pattern registration screen 720 of FIG. 10 is
displayed. When the number of specific day pattern to be modified
is designated using pull-down menu 770, the registered pattern
corresponding to the selected specific day pattern is displayed on
schedule display area 790. When the tentative pattern number of the
default pattern formed for the first specific day is selected by
pull-down menu 792 and copy execution button 794 is pressed, the
default pattern that has been formed for the first specific day is
displayed on schedule display area 790.
[0215] The user selects the time slot to be modified, from the
slot-by-slot operational modes displayed on schedule display area
790 using pull-down menus 812 and 814, designates a new operational
mode from radio buttons 810, and presses addition button 816. Then,
in the schedule display area 790, the operational mode of the
designated time slot is replaced by the designated operational
mode. After the desired pattern is formed in this manner, the user
presses registration button 692 or 756. Then, of the specific day
pattern records 952 shown in FIG. 13, the record of specific day
pattern designated by pull-down menu 770 of specific day pattern
registration screen 720 is updated in accordance with the contents
input to specific day pattern registration screen 720. The display
of specific day pattern registration screen 720 is also updated in
accordance with the result.
[0216] After the specific day pattern is modified based on the
default pattern, the specific day pattern after modification is
designated in pull-down menu 734 for the first specific day, on
specific day registration screen 680 shown in FIG. 9. Then, as the
energy saving operation pattern of the day designated by specific
day setting area 732, the pattern originated from the pattern based
on the job logs of the same day last month can be registered.
[0217] If the user wishes to change holiday setting, the user
presses holiday tab 714. Then, holiday registration screen 830
shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the browser window. The contents
displayed here reflect the contents registered in day of the week
flag records 954 and periodic holiday records 956 of specific day
information 940 (FIG. 13). It is noted, however, that the period
displayed here (specified by pull-down menu 880) is three months
including the date of operation in the present embodiment. When the
user checks or unchecks check boxes of respective days of the week
to be designated or not to be designated as a holiday in day of the
week designating area 842 and presses registration button 862, day
of the week flag records 954 are updated in accordance with the
user operation. When the user operates pull-down menu 880 of FIG.
11 and selects a period to be set, holiday registering unit 298
reads the record corresponding to the selected period from periodic
holiday records 956 of specific day information 940, and updates
the period designating area 844 in accordance with the contents.
When the user checks or unchecks check boxes of period designating
area 844 and presses registration button 890, of the periodic
holiday records 956 of specific day information 940, the contents
of the record designated by pull-down menu 880 are updated in
accordance with the contents of check box columns 884. Holiday
registering unit 298 updates holiday registration screen 830 in
accordance with the result of update.
[0218] When the user wishes to view the list of set holidays,
he/she presses button 840 of holiday registration screen 830 of
FIG. 11. Then, holiday registering unit 298 reads day of the week
flag records 954 and periodic holiday records 956 of FIG. 13, in
accordance with the results, generates HTML source of holiday list
screen 910 shown in FIG. 12 and transmits it to the browser of PC
190. The browser displays the HTML source on the window.
[0219] Of the processes described above, the processes for
generating specific day pattern registration screen 720 of FIG. 10,
holiday registration screen 830 of FIG. 11 and holiday list screen
910 of FIG. 12 and the processes for updating specific day pattern
records 952, day of the week flag records 954 and periodic holiday
records 956 of FIG. 13 can readily be realized by using the
technique of updating a master table in a common data management
system. Generation of holiday list screen 910 involves only the
reading of data and generation of HTML source and, therefore, it
can more easily be realized than the processes related to specific
day pattern registration screen 720 and holiday registration screen
830.
[0220] <Automatic Pattern Updating Process>
[0221] Auto pattern updating unit 274 determines, based on the read
information, whether or not a specific day is set in image forming
apparatus 100.
[0222] If no specific day is set, the control proceeds to step
542.
[0223] If any specific day is set, auto pattern updating unit 274
reads specific day pattern records 952, day of the week flag
records 954 and periodic holiday records 956 from specific day
information 940. Further, based on the read information, auto
pattern updating unit 274 specifies the day for which a specific
day pattern is set and a specific pattern is designated, based on
the read information. Here, referring to the date of specific day
information records 950 and information read from day of the week
flag records 954 and periodic holiday records 956, whether or not
the day designated as the specific day in specific day information
record 950 falls on a holiday is determined. If the specific day is
determined to fall on a holiday, the holiday operation flag of
specific day information record 950 is referred to, to determine
whether the specific day is to be moved forward, postponed or
cancelled.
[0224] After the day in which the specific day schedule is to be
executed is determined, auto pattern updating unit 274 counts the
number of outputs, the number of jobs and the wait time of image
forming apparatus 100, day by day of the week and time slot by time
slot, based on the logs obtained at step 540, for the time slot or
time slots set to "follow weekly schedule" of the day on which the
specific day schedule is executed and for all the time slots of
days not designated as the specific day (step 972). From the
results of this process, the rate of operation of image forming
apparatus 100 in each of the time slots set to "follow weekly
schedule" of the specific day and every time slot of days not
designated as the specific day can be calculated. The subsequent
process is the same as that of auto pattern updating unit 274 of
the system in accordance with the present embodiment.
[0225] <<Effects of the System in Accordance with the Present
Embodiment>>
[0226] As described above, by image forming apparatus 100 of the
system in accordance with the present embodiment, the energy saving
operation patterns are updated automatically based on logs and, in
addition, the patterns can be confirmed on the screen. Therefore,
the administrator can grasp in what pattern image forming apparatus
100 is operating and, therefore, it becomes possible to effectively
manage image forming apparatus 100. Further, automatically learned
pattern and the pattern formed by the user can be switched.
Therefore, if the pattern learned from past job logs is considered
irrelevant, for example, when image forming apparatus 100 is moved
to a different department, the settings of image forming apparatus
100 can be done manually. Thus, operation of image forming
apparatus 100 in a pattern not matching the actual operational
status can be avoided.
[0227] Therefore, the energy consumption of image forming apparatus
100 can be reduced, taking into account the operational status.
[0228] Regarding the operation of image forming apparatus 100, a
schedule different from the schedule automatically calculated on
weekly basis can be set, designating a specific day not on a weekly
basis, using a unit of repetition not on a weekly basis (in the
present embodiment, monthly basis). Therefore, image forming
apparatus 100 can be operated in an energy saving operation
schedule better adjusted to the actual situation of the place of
business. Further, when the energy saving operation pattern for
image forming apparatus 100 is calculated on weekly basis, a time
slot or time slots for which a specific energy saving operational
mode is designated of a specific day are excluded from the
calculation. Therefore, the energy saving operation pattern
calculated on weekly basis is free from the influence of the day in
which image forming apparatus 100 operates in a different,
particular operation pattern, and hence, the accuracy of energy
saving operation pattern can be enhanced.
[0229] If the operation pattern of a specific day is to be
designated and when calculation of a default pattern is designated,
default pattern generating unit 306 of image forming apparatus 100
generates a default energy saving operation pattern, based on job
logs of the corresponding day in the past (in the present
embodiment, the corresponding day of last month), for the specific
day. The energy saving operation pattern is based on the job logs
of the corresponding day of last month and, therefore, it is
"pretty close" to the operation pattern to be set for the specific
day. The operator does not need to calculate various statistics or
to monitor operational status of the apparatus to determine the
operation pattern for the specific day. As a result, burden on the
operator for setting the specific day can be alleviated.
Second Embodiment
[0230] In the first embodiment described above, default pattern
generating unit 306, auto pattern updating unit 274, specific day
pattern registering unit 296, holiday registering unit 298,
specific day registering unit 300 and specific day setting screen
generating unit 302 and the like are all provided in energy saving
setting unit 260 in image forming apparatus 100. Further, holiday
list screen 910 shown in FIG. 12 is also generated in holiday
registering unit 298. The present invention, however, is not
limited to such an embodiment. By way of example, these functions
may be realized by a different server. Further, holidays and the
like are generally determined uniformly in the place of business
and, therefore, it may be preferable to uniformly manage holiday
list screen 910 on a server in the place of business, rather than
on each image forming apparatus. Based on such considerations, in
the second embodiment, pattern updating, comparison with the actual
operation, and setting of specific day are executed by an energy
saving management server, and holidays are managed by a holiday
management server.
[0231] FIG. 24 is a schematic block diagram of a network system
1100 in accordance with the second embodiment. Different from
network system 180 of the first embodiment, network system 1100
includes a router 1112 providing connection to the Internet 1114 to
network system 1100, and an energy saving management server 1116
and a holiday management server 1118, both connected to the
Internet 1114. Further, network system 1100 includes, in place of
image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 14, an image forming
apparatus 1110 having a function of communicating with energy
saving management server 1116 and holiday management server 1118
and operating in accordance with the energy saving operation
pattern determined by energy saving management server 1116.
[0232] Energy saving management server 1116 has functions
corresponding to auto pattern updating unit 274, specific day
registering unit 300, specific day pattern registering unit 296 and
default pattern generating unit 306 of the first embodiment shown
in FIG. 6. Energy saving management server 1116 further has a
function of periodically collecting job logs from image forming
apparatuses such as image forming apparatus 1110 in network system
1100.
[0233] Energy saving management server 1116 has functions of
managing the specific day and the specific day pattern of image
forming apparatus 1110, collecting job logs of image forming
apparatus 1110 and the like and periodically determining the energy
saving operation pattern of each image forming apparatus, in
response to operations from PC 190 and the like. These can be
realized by providing auto pattern updating unit 274, specific day
registering unit 300, specific day pattern registering unit 296,
default pattern generating unit 306, specific day information
storage unit 304 and the like of the first embodiment in energy
saving management server 1116, and regarding the holiday
information, by obtaining necessary information from holiday
management server 1118.
[0234] Holiday management server 1118 has the function of holiday
registering unit 298 of image forming apparatus 100 of the first
embodiment and, therefore, it can manage the holiday information to
be managed uniformly in image forming apparatus 1110 in response to
an operation from PC 190. If there is a request for information
related to a holiday from image forming apparatus 1110, PC 190 or
the like, holiday management server 1118 returns necessary
information. Functions necessary to do so are as described with
reference to holiday registering unit 298 and holiday registration
screen 830 of FIG. 11 in the first embodiment.
[0235] It goes without saying that energy saving management server
1116 and holiday management server 1118 are integrated in one
server. In that case, energy saving setting unit 260 shown in FIG.
6 is moved, substantially unchanged, to the server, log obtaining
unit 270 is adapted to have the function of collecting job logs of
each image forming apparatus in network system 1100, and log
storage unit 272 is adapted to have a function of storing the job
logs of each image forming apparatus. By performing the process
similar to that of the first embodiment in each of the image
forming apparatuses, the energy saving operation patterns for
respective days of the week, the specific day pattern for the
specific day, and the actual pattern for the specific day are
formed. The energy saving operation pattern and the specific day
pattern formed for each image forming apparatus are stored in
pattern storage unit 278 and specific day information storage unit
304, respectively, together with information for distinguishing the
image forming apparatuses from each other. These pieces of
information are transmitted and stored at appropriate timing to the
corresponding image forming apparatus and stored. Each image
forming apparatus controls the operational mode of itself in the
similar manner as image forming apparatus 100 in accordance with
the first embodiment, based on the energy saving operation pattern
and the specific day pattern.
[0236] In the embodiment described above, regarding the collection
for a specific day, calculation on monthly basis is used as an
example where calculation on weekly basis is not appropriate. The
present invention, however, is not limited to such an embodiment.
In most cases, it is sufficient to have auto pattern registered on
weekly basis and to calculate on monthly basis for the specific
day. In some cases, however, a unit longer than one month, for
example, three months may be used to determine the specific day. In
that case, in addition to the monthly counting, the rate of
operation per every three months is calculated. It is also possible
to determine the specific day in every ten days or on bi-weekly
basis, as a unit shorter than a month. These units are determined
by the actual progress of business activities, and the system can
easily be adapted to the actual business environment.
[0237] As described above, according to the present invention, logs
are collected in a certain period of time (for example, on a weekly
basis) and the energy saving operation pattern of the image forming
apparatus is determined based thereon; and a specific day is
provided and for the specific day, logs are collected in a time
period (for example, one month) different from the certain time
period, and the energy saving operation pattern for the specific
day can be determined based thereon. If the business transactions
or processes are repeated in two or more different cycles, optimal
energy saving patterns can be set for both cycles. As a result, if
the operational status of the image forming apparatus differs in
different units of repetition, such as in the case of a schedule
repeated on weekly basis and a schedule repeated on monthly bases,
the energy saving effect of the image forming apparatus can be
maintained while not preventing decrease of working efficiency.
[0238] It is possible that in some departments, image forming
apparatus 110 is fully turned off at night. In such a case, logs
during the night time cannot be obtained. Therefore, in the auto
mode, the energy saving operation pattern of the corresponding time
slots cannot be determined. To cope with this situation, it is
possible to determine a default energy saving operation pattern
(default schedule) in advance and to allocate the default energy
saving operation pattern to the time slot of which logs could not
be obtained. Typically, it is appropriate to set the "power saving"
operational mode as the default mode. That the logs cannot be
collected means it is not much necessary to keep active the image
forming apparatus 100 in the corresponding time slot.
[0239] Regarding the display of energy saving operation pattern
table 358 shown in FIG. 8, if the default value is allocated, the
display may be made different from other portions (for example, the
corresponding portion may be displayed in gray), or the display may
be the same as other portions. It would be convenient if switching
between such manners of display is possible.
[0240] In the description of the system in accordance with the
present embodiment, the energy saving operation pattern is
confirmed and set by PC 190 for the administrator provided outside
of image forming apparatus 100, through the web server in image
forming apparatus 100. When the energy saving operation pattern is
to be set in the system of the present embodiment, however, it is
possible to set using touch-panel display 130 of image forming
apparatus 100, as described above.
[0241] In the system of the present embodiment, the energy saving
operation pattern is learned day by day for each specific day and
time slot by time slot (hourly). The present invention, however, is
not limited to such an embodiment. By way of example, the time slot
may be made shorter or longer. The time slots may have different
lengths. For instance, time slot of one hour may be used for
management during daytime, and time slot of three hours may be used
for the night time.
[0242] In the system of the present embodiment, colors of the cells
of Table 50 are made different. The present system, however, is not
limited to such an embodiment. The energy saving operation patterns
may be represented using characters, figures or icons.
[0243] Though an example in which energy saving operation pattern
table 358 is fully displayed on the screen has been described
above, energy saving operation pattern table 358 may be made
scrollable in up/down directions, considering a screen having small
height. Further, day-by-day or time slot-by-time slot display using
tabs is also possible, so that the display can be switched on the
screen. It is noted, however, that the 24 hour, one-week display
shown in FIG. 8 is visually friendly and preferred.
[0244] In the system of the present embodiment, the energy saving
operation patterns are classified to four stages in accordance with
the rate of operation. The present system, however, is not limited
to such an embodiment. The energy saving operation patterns may be
classified to larger number of stages, or smaller number of stages.
Further, the rate of operation may be calculated by a numerical
value as in the modification described above, and the time before
suspended state is entered may be changed as a function of the
numerical value.
[0245] In the embodiment above, the first group is classified by
days of the week, and the second group is classified only by the
day. Therefore, each group belonging to the first group appears
repeatedly (periodically) in a constant order, and the frequency of
appearance is equal among the groups. The second group is slightly
different since there are long and short months. The groups,
however, appear in order in a substantially similar manner. The
present invention, however, is not limited to such classification
of groups.
[0246] By way of example, order of appearance of groups may be such
that a day belonging to a certain group appears at a higher
frequency or lower frequency than a day belonging to another group.
For instance, assume that work pattern of Friday differs on
alternate weeks, in a place of business. Then, one group may be
formed for each of Monday to Thursday, and two groups may be formed
for Friday as there are two different patterns every other week,
and hence, a total of eight groups may be formed. Various other
classifications of groups may be possible, appropriately
considering actual conditions of the place of business.
[0247] In the embodiment above, up to three days may be set as the
specific days. It is unnecessary to limit the number of days
settable as the specific days. By way of example, considering
repetition on annual basis, the number of specific days may be much
larger than three. Even in that case, the invention is readily
applicable, basically by setting the number of specific days to be
an arbitrary number larger than 3.
[0248] The embodiments as have been described here are mere
examples and should not be interpreted as restrictive. The scope of
the present invention is determined by each of the claims with
appropriate consideration of the written description of the
embodiments and embraces modifications within the meaning of, and
equivalent to, the languages in the claims.
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