Changing Operating State of a Network Device on a Network Based on a Number of Users of the Network

• US 20110087905A1
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Akiyama, Kazuhito, Tada, Masami, Furuichi, Sanehiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,499,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0833 for reduction of network energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

Object To control a network printer such that, when the number of active user computers in the vicinity of the network printer is large, the network printer is set in a standby state and, when that number is small, the network printer is powered off to achieve reduced office power consumption. Solution A method for managing a first unit and one or more other units connected to the first unit over a network is provided. The method includes (i) detecting, by a management unit, an operating state of the other units positioned within a specific range from the first unit on the basis of a location of each of the first and other units over the network, the operating state including at least an operating state at which a service request is capable of being transmitted to the first unit. The method further includes (ii) transmitting, by the management unit, to the first unit, an instruction to change an operating state of the first unit depending on a number of the other units being in the detected operating state at which the service request is capable of being transmitted.

Claims

1. A method for managing a first unit and one or more other units connected to the first unit over a network, the network being connected to a management unit, the method comprising:

detecting, by the management unit, an operating state of the other units positioned within a specific range from the first unit on the basis of a location of each of the first and other units over the network, the operating state including at least an operating state at which a service request is capable of being transmitted to the first unit; and

transmitting, by the management unit, to the first unit, an instruction to change an operating state of the first unit depending on a number of the other units being in the detected operating state at which the service request is capable of being transmitted.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, when the determined number is larger than a specific number, the instruction is transmitted by the management unit to the first unit, the instruction causing the first unit to shift from an operating state at which first power consumption is indicated, to an operating state at which second power consumption is indicated, the second power consumption being larger than the first power consumption.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, when the determined number is smaller than a specific number, the instruction is transmitted by the management unit to the first unit, the instruction causing the first unit to shift from an operating state at which first power consumption is indicated, to an operating state at which second power consumption is indicated, the second power consumption being smaller than the first power consumption.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first unit is an image forming apparatus, and the other units are configured to transmit an image forming service request to the first unit.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the other units are application software.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the other units are computers.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location of each of the first and other units is expressed as a distance from the management unit.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location of each of the first and other units is expressed by an identifier for a network segment in the network.

25. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

acquiring the specific range and the specific number associated with the first unit from a data structure storing entries for a plurality of first units, wherein the specific range and the specific number are different for at least two of the first units in the plurality of first units.

9. An apparatus for managing a first unit and one or more other units connected to the first unit over a network, the apparatus comprising:

a client unit management section that detects an operating state of the other units positioned within a specific range from the first unit on the basis of a location of each of the first and other units over the network, the operating state including at least an operating state at which a service request is capable of being transmitted to the first unit; and

an integrated control section that transmits, to the first unit, an instruction to change an operating state of the first unit depending on a number of the other units being in the detected operating state at which the service request is capable of being transmitted.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein, when the determined number is larger than a specific number, the instruction is transmitted by the management unit to the first unit, the instruction causing the first unit to shift from an operating state at which first power consumption is indicated, to an operating state at which second power consumption is indicated, the second power consumption being larger than the first power consumption.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, when the determined number is smaller than a specific number, the instruction is transmitted by the management unit to the first unit, the instruction causing the first unit to shift from an operating state at which first power consumption is indicated, to an operating state at which second power consumption is indicated, the second power consumption being smaller than the first power consumption.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first unit is an image forming apparatus, and the other units are configured to transmit an image forming service request to the first unit.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the other units are application software.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the other units are computers.

16. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the location of each of the first and other units is expressed as a distance from the management unit.

17. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the location of each of the first and other units is expressed by an identifier for a network segment in the network.

10. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program stored therein wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to:

detect an operating state of the other units positioned within a specific range from the first unit on the basis of a location of each of the first and other units over the network, the operating state including at least an operating state at which a service request is capable of being transmitted to the first unit; and

transmit, to the first unit, an instruction to change an operating state of the first unit depending on a number of the other units being in the detected operating state at which the service request is capable of being transmitted.

18. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein, when the determined number is larger than a specific number, the instruction is transmitted by the management unit to the first unit, the instruction causing the first unit to shift from an operating state at which first power consumption is indicated, to an operating state at which second power consumption is indicated, the second power consumption being larger than the first power consumption.

19. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein, when the determined number is smaller than a specific number, the instruction is transmitted by the management unit to the first unit, the instruction causing the first unit to shift from an operating state at which first power consumption is indicated, to an operating state at which second power consumption is indicated, the second power consumption being smaller than the first power consumption.

20. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein the first unit is an image forming apparatus, and the other units are configured to transmit an image forming service request to the first unit.

21. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein the other units are application software.

22. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein the other units are computers.

23. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein the location of each of the first and other units is expressed as a distance from the management unit.

24. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein the location of each of the first and other units is expressed by an identifier for a network segment in the network.