Image forming apparatus having power save function, control method thereof, and storage medium

• US 9,277,077 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2014
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Higashi, Hidenori
• Primary Examiner(s): Augustin, Marcellus
• Application Number:
  US14/467,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20150062607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 358 11- 329
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• 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 11/004 Error avoidance G06F11/07 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1441 Resetting or repowering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00339 with an electronic or magnetic storage medium I/O device RFID or the like H04N1/00342
• 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 1/00896 using a low-power mode, e.g. standby
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception

Abstract

An image forming apparatus, having an SSD as an auxiliary storage device, which is capable of preventing loss of data in the auxiliary storage device caused by lapse of a retention period in a power save state or a power off state. In a case where the auxiliary storage device is determined to be an SSD based on type information that is acquired when the image forming apparatus is activated, a predicted retention period is calculated, and is set in a part of the apparatus that operates in the power save state. The part of the apparatus that operates in the power save state causes the image forming apparatus to transit from the power save state to a normal state based on the set predicted retention period.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus configured to be able to transit between a normal state where a normal operation is performed and a power save state where power consumption is less than in the normal state, the image forming apparatus comprising:

a non-volatile storage device;

a setting unit configured to calculate, when the image forming apparatus transits from the normal state to the power save state, a data retention period of said non-volatile storage device, and to set the calculated data retention period in a part of the image forming apparatus that operates in the power save state; and

a transition unit configured to cause, by the part of the image forming apparatus that operates in the power save state, the image forming apparatus to transit from the power save state to the normal state based on the data retention period set by said setting unit,

wherein the setting unit and the transition unit are implemented by a processor executing at least one program recorded on a memory device.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the part of the image forming apparatus that operates in the power save state includes an RTC (Real Time Clock) that is driven by a battery, and a communication section that is supplied with power in the power save state.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting unit calculates the data retention period of said non-volatile storage device when the image forming apparatus transmits from the normal state to a power off state, and sets the calculated data retention period in a part of the image forming apparatus that operates in the power off state, and

wherein the part of the image forming apparatus that operates in the power off state causes the image forming apparatus to transit from the power off state to the normal state based on the data retention period set by said setting unit.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting unit calculates, in a case where said non-volatile storage device is an SSD (Solid State Drive), the data retention period based on a parameter obtained by execution of a self-monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology (S.M.A.R.T.) command.

5. A control method of an image forming apparatus having a non-volatile storage device, the image forming apparatus configured to be able to transit between a normal state where a normal operation is performed and a power save state where power consumption is less than in the normal state, the control method comprising:

a setting step of calculating, when the image forming apparatus transits from the normal state to the power save state, a data retention period of said non-volatile storage device, and setting the calculated data retention period in a part of the image forming apparatus that operates in the power save state; and

a transition step of causing, by the part of the image forming apparatus that operates in the power save state, the image forming apparatus to transit from the power save state to the normal state based on the data retention period set in said setting step.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program configured to cause a computer to implement a control method of an image forming apparatus having a non-volatile storage device, the image forming apparatus configured to be able to transit between a normal state where a normal operation is performed and a power save state where power consumption is less than in said normal state, the control method comprising:

a setting step of calculating, when the image forming apparatus transits from the normal state to the power save state, a data retention period of said non-volatile storage device, and setting the calculated data retention period in a part of the image forming apparatus that operates in the power save state; and

a transition step of causing, by the part of the image forming apparatus that operates in said power save state, the image forming apparatus to transit from the power save state to the normal state based on the data retention period set in said setting step.

7. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a non-volatile auxiliary storage device;

a mounting unit configured to mount or unmount the auxiliary storage device; and

an identification unit configured to acquire type information indicating a type of the auxiliary storage device when the image forming apparatus is activated, and to identify the auxiliary storage device,

wherein said mounting unit calculates a data retention period of the auxiliary storage device identified by said identification unit, and re-mounts, in a case where the data retention period exceeds a threshold, the auxiliary storage device in a way inhibiting writing,

wherein the mounting unit and the identification unit are implemented by a processor executing at least one program recorded on a memory device.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said mounting unit calculates, in a case where the non-volatile auxiliary storage device is an SSD (Solid State Drive), the data retention period based on a parameter obtained by execution of a self-monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology (S.M.A.R.T.) command.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the data retention period is represented by a predicted retention period that is calculated based on a parameter obtained by execution of the S.M.A.R.T. command.

10. A control method of an image forming apparatus having a non-volatile auxiliary storage device, the control method comprising:

a mounting step of mounting or unmounting said auxiliary storage device; and

an identification step of acquiring type information indicating a type of the auxiliary storage device when the image forming apparatus is activated, and identifying the auxiliary storage device,

wherein said mounting step comprises calculating a data retention period of the auxiliary storage device identified in said identification step, and re-mounting, in a case where the data retention period exceeds a threshold, the auxiliary storage device in a way inhibiting writing.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to implement a control method of an image forming apparatus having a non-volatile auxiliary storage device, the control method comprising:

a mounting step of mounting or unmounting said auxiliary storage device; and

an identification step of acquiring type information indicating a type of the auxiliary storage device when the image forming apparatus is activated, and identifying the auxiliary storage device,

wherein said mounting step comprises calculating a data retention period of the auxiliary storage device identified in said identification step, and re-mounting, in a case where the data retention period exceeds a threshold, the auxiliary storage device in a way inhibiting writing.