IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20130268790A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nakai, Hironobu
• Granted Patent: US 9,292,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3228 Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3246 by software initiated power-off
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3284 Power saving in printer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An image forming apparatus stores, in a storage unit, the number of extensions, which is the number of times an automatic shutdown time can be extended, and an extension time period by which the automatic shutdown time can be extended. Upon receiving a set request for requesting extension of the automatic shutdown from an external apparatus, the image forming apparatus enables settings of the received set request when the received set request satisfies conditions regarding the number of extensions and the extension time period, and disables the settings of the received set request when the set request does not satisfy the conditions regarding the number of extensions and the extension time period.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus that executes automatic shutdown when a predetermined time period has elapsed since a start of a sleep mode in which power-saving control is executed, the image forming apparatus comprising:

a storage unit configured to store the number of extensions, which is the number of times an automatic shutdown time can be extended, and an extension time period by which the automatic shutdown time can be extended;

a reception unit configured to receive a set request for requesting extension of the automatic shutdown from an external apparatus communicably connected to the image forming apparatus; and

a control unit configured to enable settings of the set request received by the reception unit when the set request satisfies conditions regarding the number of extensions and the extension time period stored in the storage unit, and to disable the settings of the set request when the set request does not satisfy the conditions regarding the number of extensions and the extension time period stored in the storage unit.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the storage unit further stores a current automatic shutdown time, and

when enabling the settings of the set request, the control unit updates the number of extensions, the extension time period and the automatic shutdown time in the storage unit to reflect the set request, and transmits the updated number of extensions, extension time period and automatic shutdown time to the external apparatus.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the reception unit further receives, from the external apparatus, an acquisition request for requesting acquisition of the number of extensions, the extension time period and the automatic shutdown time related to the automatic shutdown of the image forming apparatus, and

when the reception unit receives the acquisition request, the control unit transmits the number of extensions, the extension time period and the automatic shutdown time stored in the storage unit to the external apparatus as a response.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

when the extension time period becomes shorter than a predetermined time period, the control unit disables the settings of the set request even if the set request satisfies the conditions regarding the number of extensions and the extension time period.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the storage unit further stores a shutdown time for each day input by a user, and

the control unit prioritizes either the shutdown time for each day of the week or the extension time period as a maximum extension time.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the reception unit receives a request from an external apparatus that does not have a predetermined identifier as an error request that is not to be processed, and receives a request from an external apparatus that has the predetermined identifier as a request that is to be processed.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a set request that is received by the reception unit before elapse of a predetermined time period since previous reception of a set request is received as an error request that is not to be processed, and a set request that is received by the reception unit after elapse of the predetermined time period since previous reception of a set request is received as a request to be processed.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

communication with the external apparatus is performed using SNMP and MIB information.

9. A control method for an image forming apparatus that executes automatic shutdown when a predetermined time period has elapsed since a start of a sleep mode in which power-saving control is executed, and that includes a storage unit storing the number of extensions, which is the number of times an automatic shutdown time can be extended, and an extension time period by which the automatic shutdown time can be extended, the control method comprising:

causing a reception unit to receive a set request for requesting extension of the automatic shutdown from an external apparatus communicably connected to the image forming apparatus; and

causing a control unit to enable settings of the set request received in the reception step when the set request satisfies conditions regarding the number of extensions and the extension time period stored in the storage unit, and to disable the settings of the set request when the set request does not satisfy the conditions regarding the number of extensions and the extension time period stored in the storage unit.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for controlling a computer to execute respective steps in a control method of an image forming apparatus of claim 9.