INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL SYSTEM, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS THAT PROTECT IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INSTALLED IN AREA WHERE ABNORMALITY HAS OCCURRED, FROM SECONDARY DISASTER

• US 20200137251A1
• Filed: 10/22/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Original Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc. (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: WADA, Minoru, MAEZAWA, Nobuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 11,039,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00037 Detecting, i.e. determining the occurrence of a predetermined state H04N1/00031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00061 using a remote apparatus H04N1/00066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00082 Adjusting or controlling interrupting an operation H04N1/00915; inhibiting an operation H04N1/00925
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00344 with a management, maintenance, service or repair apparatus monitoring H04N1/00002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00891 Switching on or off, e.g. for saving power when not in use H04N1/00896 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0097 Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00981 by forced convection, e.g. using fans
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An information processing apparatus manages an image forming apparatus installed in a building having a plurality of areas. The information processing apparatus includes an installation area information storage device, containing installation area information indicating each of the areas where the image forming apparatus is installed, a communication device that makes communication with an external apparatus, and a control device including a processor, and configured to acts as a controller, when the processor executes an operation control program. The controller transmits, when an abnormality detection device, provided in each of the areas to detect an abnormality that has occurred in the area, detects the abnormality, a command notice to turn off power for the image forming apparatus installed in the area where the abnormality has occurred, from the communication device to the image forming apparatus, according to the installation area information stored in the installation area information storage device.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus that manages an image forming apparatus installed in a building having a plurality of areas, the information processing apparatus comprising:

an installation area information storage device that contains installation area information indicating each of the areas where the image forming apparatus is installed;

a communication device that makes communication with an external apparatus; and

a control device including a processor, and configured to acts as a controller, when the processor executes an operation control program,

wherein the controller transmits, when an abnormality detection device, provided in each of the areas to detect an abnormality that has occurred in the area, detects the abnormality, a command notice to turn off power for the image forming apparatus installed in the area where the abnormality has occurred, from the communication device to the image forming apparatus, according to the installation area information stored in the installation area information storage device.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the controller transmits the command notice to all of the image forming apparatuses installed in the building, from the communication device, when the abnormality detection device detects an earthquake.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein, when the abnormality detection device detects any of fire, gas leakage, and intrusion of a suspicious person as abnormality, the controller transmits the command notice to the image forming apparatus installed in the area where the abnormality has occurred, from the communication device.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein, when a predetermined time has elapsed after the abnormality detection device detected a fire, the controller transmits the command notice also to the image forming apparatus installed in the area where the fire has not occurred.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein, when the abnormality detection device detects gas leakage, the controller transmits gas leakage information indicating that the abnormality that has occurred is gas leakage, to the image forming apparatus installed in the area where the gas leakage has occurred, from the communication device.

6. A control system comprising:

an image forming apparatus installed in a building having a plurality of areas; and

an information processing apparatus that manages the image forming apparatuses,

wherein the information processing apparatus includes;

an installation area information storage device that contains installation area information indicating each of the areas where the image forming apparatus is installed;

a first communication device that makes communication with an external apparatus; and

a first control device including a processor, and configured to acts as a first controller, when the processor executes an operation control program,

the controller transmits, when an abnormality detection device, provided in each of the areas to detect an abnormality that has occurred in the area, detects the abnormality, a command notice to turn off power for the image forming apparatus installed in the area where the abnormality has occurred, from the communication device to the image forming apparatus, according to the installation area information stored in the installation area information storage device,

the image forming apparatus includes;

a second communication device that makes communication with an external apparatus; and

a second control device including a processor, and configured to acts as a second controller, when the processor executes a control program, and

the second controller turns off the power for performing a function of the image forming apparatus, when the second communication device receives the command notice transmitted from the information processing apparatus.

7. The control system according to claim 6,

wherein the information processing apparatus further includes an operation device to be operated by a user,

the first controller transmits a cancel notice to cancel the command to turn off the power, to the image forming apparatus from the first communication device, when the user instructs, through the operation device, to cancel the command to turn off the power, and

the second controller of the image forming apparatus turns on the power, when the user operates a power switch of the image forming apparatus while the power is off in accordance with the command notice, provided that the second communication device has received the cancel notice transmitted from the information processing apparatus, but keeps the power from being turned on, in a case where the second communication device has not received the cancel notice.

8. The control system according to claim 7,

wherein, when the abnormality detection device detects gas leakage, the first controller transmits gas leakage information indicating that the abnormality that has occurred is gas leakage, to the image forming apparatus installed in the area where the gas leakage has occurred, from the first communication device,

the image forming apparatus further includes a fan, and

the second controller activates the fan before performing warm-up according to a normal schedule, when the user operates the power switch of the image forming apparatus, while it is recognized that the power is off because of the gas leakage, according to the gas leakage information received by the second communication device.

9. The control system according to claim 6,

wherein, when the second communication device receives the command notice transmitted from the information processing apparatus, the second controller turns off the power for performing the function of the image forming apparatus, but keeps a main power source from being turned off

10. An image forming apparatus to be installed in a building having a plurality of areas, the image forming apparatus comprising:

an installation area information storage device that contains installation area information indicating each of the areas where the image forming apparatus is installed; and

a controller that turns off power for performing a function of the image forming apparatus, when an abnormality detection device, provided in each of the areas to detect an abnormality that has occurred in the area, detects the abnormality, according to the installation area information stored in the installation area information storage device, in a case where the image forming apparatus is installed in the area where the abnormality has occurred.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a communication device for communication with an external apparatus,

wherein the installation area information storage device contains installation area information indicating each of the areas where the image forming apparatus and another image forming apparatus are installed,

the controller turns off the power for performing the function of the image forming apparatus and the other image forming apparatus, according to the installation area information stored in the installation area information storage device, when the abnormality detection device, provided in each of the areas to detect an abnormality that has occurred in the area, detects the abnormality, and

the controller transmits, when turning off the power for the other image forming apparatus, a command notice to turn off the power to the other the image forming apparatus, from the communication device.