Image forming system and device, and control method and control program for controlling image forming device

• US 7,064,854 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2002
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Idehara, Takenori
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly
• Assistant Examiner(s): SINGH, SATWANT K
• Application Number:
  US10/040,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20020089694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/1.14, 395/114, 395/113, 455/38.3, 455/434, 455/38.01, 455/3.01, 345/179
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/2003 using heat
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5004 Power supply control, e.g. power-saving mode, automatic power turn-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00 Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00323 with a measuring, monitoring or signaling apparatus, e.g. for transmitting measured information to a central location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00912 Arrangements for controlling a still picture apparatus or components thereof not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00928 Initialisation or control of normal start-up or shut-down, i.e. non failure or error related

Abstract

The image forming system includes a digital copying machine 1 and portable terminals 2. The digital copying machine 1 has a wireless communication unit 40, which is wirelessly communication with the portable terminals 2. The digital copying machine 1 identifies a portable terminal located closest to the digital copying machine 1 out of multiple portable terminals 2 that are in communicable conditions. As the distance between the identified portable terminal 2 and the digital copying machine 1 reduces, the temperature of heating rollers 31 is controlled to rise.

Claims

1. An image forming system comprising portable terminals and an image forming device, wherein

said portable terminals are each equipped with a wireless communication unit capable of wirelessly communicating with said image forming device;

and

said image forming device comprises;

a wireless communication unit capable of wirelessly communicating with said portable terminals;

an identifying unit for identifying a portable terminal located closest to the image forming device out of portable terminals under wirelessly communicable conditions; and

a power saving control unit for performing power saving control for said image forming device in correspondence with the distance between the identified portable terminal and said image forming device.

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

said identifying unit eliminates one or more portable terminals that do not move for a predetermined time from objects of identification.

3. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein

said identifying unit eliminates one or more portable terminals that move in directions away from said image forming device from objects of identification.

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

said identifying unit has a usage history recognizing component for recognizing usage history of said image forming device for each portable terminal and eliminates one or more portable terminals whose usage frequencies do not reach a predetermined usage frequency from objects of identification.

5. An image forming device comprising:

a communication unit for communicating wirelessly with a portable terminal; and

a controller executing the steps of;

obtaining distance between said portable terminal and said image forming device based on result of communication performed by said communication unit, and

performing power saving control for said image forming device in accordance with the obtained distance,

wherein

said communication unit is capable of communicating with multiple portable terminals;

said controller identifies a portable terminal located closest to the image forming device out of multiple portable terminals under conditions wirelessly communicable with said communication unit and performs power saving control for said image forming device in accordance with the distance between the identified portable terminal and said image forming device.

6. The image forming device according to claim 5, wherein

said controller eliminates one or more portable terminals that do not move for a predetermined time from objects of identification.

7. The image forming device according to claim 5 further comprising a fusing unit, wherein

said power saving control is temperature control for said fusing unit.

8. A control method for an image forming device comprising:

1) wirelessly communicating with a portable terminal;

2) obtaining distance between said portable terminal and said image forming device based on said communication result; and

3) performing power saving control for said image forming device in accordance with the distance obtained in said step

     2), wherein

said step

     1) comprises communicating with multiple portable terminals; and

said step

     2) comprises identifying a portable terminal located closest to the image forming device out of multiple portable terminals under wirelessly communicable conditions, and obtaining distance between the identified portable terminal and said image forming device.

9. The control method according to claim 8, wherein

said step 2) comprises eliminating one or more portable terminals that do not move for a predetermined time from objects of identification.

10. The control method according to claim 8, wherein

said image forming device has a fusing unit;

and

said power saving control is temperature control for said fusing unit.

11. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium for an image forming device, wherein

said program causes a computer to execute the steps of:

1) wirelessly communicating with a portable terminal;

2) obtaining distance between said portable terminal and said image forming device based on said communication result; and

3) performing power saving control for said image forming device in accordance with the distance obtained in said step

     2), wherein

said step

     1) comprises communicating with multiple portable terminals; and

said step

     2) comprises identifying a portable terminal located closest to the image forming device out of multiple portable terminals under wirelessly communicable conditions, and obtaining distance between the identified portable terminal and said image forming device.

12. The control program according to claim 11, wherein

said step 2) comprises eliminating one or more portable terminals that do not move for a predetermined time from objects of identification.

13. The control program according to claim 11, wherein

said image forming device has a fusing unit;

and

said power saving control is temperature control for said fusing unit.

14. An image forming system comprising multiple image forming devices, portable terminals and a control device for controlling said image forming device, wherein

said portable terminals are each equipped with a wireless communication unit capable of wirelessly communicating with said control device;

and

said control device comprises;

a wireless communication unit capable of wirelessly communicating with said multiple portable terminals;

an identifying unit for identifying a portable terminal of a preregistered user out of portable terminals under wirelessly communicable conditions; and

a power saving control unit for performing power saving control for said image forming device in correspondence with the distance between the identified portable terminal and said image forming device, wherein said power saving control unit provided in said control device changes said power saving control'"'"'s contents in accordance with each image forming device'"'"'s usage frequency.

15. The image forming system according to claim 14, wherein

said image forming device comprises a fusing unit;

and

said power saving control is temperature control for said fusing unit.