Power saving system for image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus operable in power saving modes
First Claim
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1. An operation system for an image forming apparatus comprising;
- a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network, anda server which controls operation state of the image forming apparatuses via the network,the image forming apparatuses are operable in plural power saving classes from an operation mode with a high degree of power saving to an operation mode with a low degree of power saving, andthe server individually sets a power saving class of each of the image forming apparatuses separately for each time band, and sets the number of operating units by the class in accordance with a preset power-saving operation policy, and controls the image forming apparatuses so that each of the image forming apparatuses operates in the preset operation mode in each predetermined time band.
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Abstract
The present invention includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network, and a server which controls the operation state of the image forming apparatuses via the network. The image forming apparatuses are operable in a normal operation mode and in one of plural power-saving modes with different power consumption. The server individually sets the operation mode of the image forming apparatuses in accordance with a preset power-saving operation policy, and controls the image forming apparatuses so that each of the image forming apparatuses operates in the preset operation mode in each predetermined time band.
11 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An operation system for an image forming apparatus comprising;
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a plurality of image forming apparatuses connected to a network, and a server which controls operation state of the image forming apparatuses via the network, the image forming apparatuses are operable in plural power saving classes from an operation mode with a high degree of power saving to an operation mode with a low degree of power saving, and the server individually sets a power saving class of each of the image forming apparatuses separately for each time band, and sets the number of operating units by the class in accordance with a preset power-saving operation policy, and controls the image forming apparatuses so that each of the image forming apparatuses operates in the preset operation mode in each predetermined time band. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An operation method for an image forming apparatus connected via a network to a server capable of controlling operation state of plural image forming apparatuses,
the image forming apparatuses are operable in plural power saving classes from an operation mode with a high degree of power saving to an operation mode with a low degree of power saving, the server individually sets an operation mode of the image forming apparatuses in accordance with a preset power-saving operation policy, and provides setting such that the number of image forming apparatuses operating in the operation mode with the low degree of power saving is increased and the number of image forming apparatuses operating in the operation mode with the high degree of power saving is reduced in a time band where the image forming apparatuses are used at a high frequency, and controlling the image forming apparatuses to operate respectively in the operation mode set by the server in each predetermined time band.
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11. An image forming apparatus comprising:
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a control panel that carries out operation setting of the image forming apparatus; an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet in response to operation of the control panel; a network interface connectable to a network; and a control unit sets the power saving class from an operation mode with a high degree of power saving to an operation mode with a low degree of power saving in each predetermined time band in accordance with an instruction from a server connected thereto via the network, and configured to control operation of each part of the image forming unit in a preset power saving class. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A control method for an image forming apparatus connectable to a network and having an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet in response to operation of the control panel, performed by a controller comprising:
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setting the power saving class from an operation mode with a high degree of power saving to an operation mode with a low degree of power saving in each predetermined time band in accordance with an instruction from a server connected thereto via the network; and controlling operation of each part of the image forming unit in the set power saving class. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification