Printer and power save control method for the same

• US 20020097423A1
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Xerox Company Limited (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Qiao, Jingyu
• Granted Patent: US 7,158,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00

Abstract

Disclosed is a printer which performs efficient power save control by keeping track of the condition of each client of the printer without having to send wasteful packets, that is, without affecting the network environment. The printer includes: a unit for monitoring packets flowing on a network, and for updating and storing a client-associated last receive time each time a packet is received from any client of the printer; a unit for determining, by referring to the stored client-associated last receive time, that any client from whose associated last receive time has elapsed a prescribed time is in an idle condition, and for computing a printer usage rate by summing the past average usage rates of the clients that have been determined not to be in an idle condition; and a unit for setting, based on the computed printer usage rate, the length of time allowed before a transition is made to the power save mode.

Claims

1. A printer which supports a power save mode and performs printing by accepting a print request from a client via a network, comprising:

packet monitoring means for monitoring packets flowing on said network, and for updating and storing a client-associated last receive time each time a packet is received from any client of said printer;

printer usage rate computing means for determining, by referring to said client-associated last receive time stored by said packet monitoring means, that any client from whose associated last receive time has elapsed a prescribed time is in an idle condition, and for computing a printer usage rate by summing past average usage rates of clients that have been determined not to be in an idle condition; and

time setting means for setting, based on said printer usage rate computed by said printer usage rate computing means, the length of time allowed before a transition is made to said power save mode.

2. A printer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for forcing said printer to transition to a standby mode when said printer is in said power save mode and when said printer usage rate computed by said printer usage rate computing means is higher than a predetermined value.

3. A printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said time setting means determines the length of time allowed before the transition to said power save mode, by determining a power save interval according to said printer usage rate and subtracting an elapsed time in a mode other than said power save mode from said power save interval.

4. A power save control method for use by a printer that supports a power save mode and performs printing by accepting a print request from a client via a network, comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring packets flowing on said network, and updating and storing a client-associated last receive time each time a packet is received from any client of said printer;

(b) determining, by referring to said client-associated last receive time stored in said step (a), that any client from whose associated last receive time has elapsed a prescribed time is in an idle condition, and computing a printer usage rate by summing past average usage rates of clients that have been determined not to be in an idle condition; and

(c) setting, based on said printer usage rate computed in said step (b), the length of time allowed before a transition is made to said power save mode.

5. A power save control method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the steps of forcing said printer to transition to a standby mode when said printer is in said power save mode and when said printer usage rate computed in said step (b) is higher than a predetermined value.

6. A power save control method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said step (c) determines the length of time allowed before the transition to said power save mode, by determining a power save interval according to said printer usage rate and subtracting an elapsed time in a mode other than said power save mode from said power save interval.

7. A recording medium readable by a printer that supports a power save mode and performs printing by accepting a print request from a client via a network, said recording medium having stored thereon a program for causing said printer to implement a power save control method comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring packets flowing on said network, and updating and storing a client-associated last receive time each time a packet is received from any client of said printer;

(b) determining, by referring to said client-associated last receive time stored in said step (a), that any client from whose associated last receive time has elapsed a prescribed time is in an idle condition, and computing a printer usage rate by summing past average usage rates of clients that have been determined not to be in an idle condition; and

(c) setting, based on said printer usage rate computed in step (b), the length of time allowed before a transition is made to said power save mode.

8. A recording medium as claimed in claim 7, wherein said power save control method further comprises the steps of forcing said printer to transition to a standby mode when said printer is in said power save mode and when said printer usage rate computed in said step (b) is higher than a predetermined value.

9. A recording medium as claimed in claim 7, wherein said step (c) determines the length of time allowed before the transition to said power save mode, by determining a power save interval according to said printer usage rate and subtracting an elapsed time in a mode other than said power save mode from said power save interval.

10. A program executable by a printer that supports a power save mode and performs printing by accepting a print request from a client via a network, wherein said program causes said printer to implement a power save control method comprising the steps of:

(a) monitoring packets flowing on said network, and updating and storing a client-associated last receive time each time a packet is received from any client of said printer;

(b) determining, by referring to said client-associated last receive time stored in said step (a), that any client from whose associated last receive time has elapsed a prescribed time is in an idle condition, and computing a printer usage rate by summing past average usage rates of clients that have been determined not to be in an idle condition; and

(c) setting, based on said printer usage rate computed in step (b), the length of time allowed before a transition is made to said power save mode.