Preparing processing and input units of a computing device for a power transition before the transition occurs

• US 9,360,919 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2012
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Iwasaki, Ryo, Yukumoto, Reiji, Kawai, Yoshifumi, Maeda, Hiroshi, Uchiyama, Daigo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): POUDEL, SANTOSH RAJ
• Application Number:
  US13/730,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20130179708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 713/320
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken

Abstract

A processing device includes a plurality of input units configured to input a process request; a plurality of processing units configured to execute a process corresponding to the process request input by the plurality of input units; a power control unit configured to transfer the processing device into a power saving state and to transfer the processing device back to a regular state from the power saving state; and an operation suppression control unit configured to send an operation suppression request to the plurality of input units and the plurality of processing units before the power control unit transfers the processing device into the power saving state, and to send an operation suppression release request to the plurality of input units and the plurality of processing units when the power control unit transfers the processing device back to the regular state from the power saving state.

Claims

1. A processing device, comprising:

an input unit configured to input at least one process request;

a processing unit configured to execute at least one process corresponding to the at least one process request input by the input unit;

a power control unit configured to transfer the processing device into a power saving state, and to transfer the processing device back to a regular state from the power saving state; and

an operation suppression control unit configured to send an operation suppression request to the input unit and the processing unit before the power control unit transfers the processing device into the power saving state, and to send an operation suppression release request to the input unit and the processing unit when the power control unit transfers the processing device back to the regular state from the power saving state,

wherein, in response to the operation suppression release request, the processing unit is further configured to determine whether one or more process requests of the at least one process request remain unexecuted from when the processing device was in the power saving state,

wherein, when the one or more process requests of the at least one process request remain unexecuted, the processing unit is further configured to;

determine whether the unexecuted one or more process requests is a duplicate of another one or more process requests of the at least one process request received after the processing device has returned to the regular state, and delete the unexecuted one or more process requests if it is said duplicate, and

execute one or more processes corresponding to the unexecuted one or more process requests that are not said duplicate, and to said another one or more process requests, and

wherein the operation suppression control unit includes a request unit configured to;

request the input unit and the processing unit to end the at least one process for which the at least one process request is received before the operation suppression request is received, and

request the input unit and the processing unit to cancel the at least one process for which the at least one process request is received after the operation suppression request is received.

2. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit and the processing unit respectively include:

a response unit configured to send a response of operation suppression to the operation suppression control unit after ending the at least one process for which the at least one process request is received before the operation suppression request is received from the operation suppression control unit, when the operation suppression request is received from the operation suppression control unit.

3. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the operation suppression control unit includes a request unit configured to send the operation suppression request to the input unit and the processing unit in an order that is stored in advance.

4. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the operation suppression control unit includes a request unit configured to send the operation suppression release request to the input unit and the processing unit in an order that is stored in advance.

5. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the operation suppression control unit includes a request unit configured to send the operation suppression request to the input unit and the processing unit specified in advance.

6. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit and the processing unit respectively include:

a receiving unit configured to receive the at least one process request for the at least one process specified in advance, in an operation suppression state after the operation suppression request is received from the operation suppression control unit.

7. The processing device according to claim 6, wherein the input unit and the processing unit respectively include:

a control unit configured to not accumulate in duplicate those of the one or more process requests that are the same, with regard to the one or more process requests received during the operation suppression state.

8. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit and the processing unit respectively include a receiving unit configured to:

receive the one or more process requests of the at least one process request for the one or more processes in an operation suppression state after the operation suppression request is received from the operation suppression control unit,

accumulate the one or more process requests of the at least one process request that have been received, and

execute the one or more processes corresponding to the one or more process requests that have been accumulated, when the operation suppression release request is received from the operation suppression control unit.

9. The processing device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit and the processing unit respectively include:

a cancel unit configured to determine whether the at least one process for which the at least one process request is received before the operation suppression request is received can be cancelled, and to cancel the at least one process that is determined to be possible to cancel, when the operation suppression request is received from the operation suppression control unit.

10. A method performed by a processing device including an input unit configured to input at least one process request and a processing unit configured to execute at least one process corresponding to the at least one process request input by the input unit, the method comprising:

transferring the processing device into a power saving state, and transferring the processing device back to a regular state from the power saving state;

sending an operation suppression request to the input unit and the processing unit before the processing device is transferred into the power saving state;

sending an operation suppression release request to the input unit and the processing unit when the processing device is transferred back to the regular state from the power saving state;

determining, in response to the operation suppression release request, whether one or more process requests of the at least one process request remain unexecuted from when the processing device was in the power saving state;

determining, when the one or more process requests of the at least one process request remain unexecuted, whether the unexecuted one or more process requests is a duplicate of another one or more process requests of the at least one process request received after the processing device has returned to the regular state, and deleting the unexecuted one or more process requests if it is said duplicate; and

executing one or more processes corresponding to the unexecuted one or more process requests that are not said duplicate, and to said another one or more process requests,

wherein the sending of the operation suppression request includes;

requesting the input unit and the processing unit to end the at least one process for which the at least one process request is received before the operation suppression request is received, and

requesting the input unit and the processing unit to cancel the at least one process for which the at least one process request is received after the operation suppression request is received.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising sending, by the input unit and the processing unit, a response of operation suppression after ending the at least one process for which the at least one process request is received before the operation suppression request is received, when the operation suppression request is received.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the sending of the operation suppression request includes sending the operation suppression request to the input unit and the processing unit in an order that is stored in advance.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the sending of the operation suppression release request includes sending the operation suppression release request to the input unit and the processing unit in an order that is stored in advance.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the sending of the operation suppression request includes sending the operation suppression request to the input unit and the processing unit specified in advance.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising receiving, by the input unit and the processing unit, the at least one process request for the at least one process specified in advance, in an operation suppression state after the operation suppression request is received.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising performing control, by the input unit and the processing unit, to not accumulate in duplicate those of the one or more process requests that are the same, with regard to the one or more process requests received during the operation suppression state.

17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, by the input unit and the processing unit, the one or more process requests of the at least one process request for the one or more processes in an operation suppression state after the operation suppression request is received;

accumulating, by the input unit and the processing unit, the one or more process requests of the at least one process request that have been received; and

executing, by the input unit and the processing Unit, the one or more processes corresponding to the one or more process requests that have been accumulated, when the operation suppression release request is received.

18. The method according to claim 10, further comprising determining, by the input unit and the processing unit, whether the at least one process for which the at least one process request is received before the operation suppression request is received can be cancelled, and cancelling the at least one process that is determined to be possible to cancel, when the operation suppression request is received.