Image formation system and terminal device

Abstract

To solve such the problem that operating an image formation device may cause power consumption to exceed the rated power.SOLUTION: An image formation device pauses image formation by image formation means and transmits data relating to a paused image to a terminal device when power consumption is larger than surplus power. The terminal device includes: receiving means for receiving data relating to an image that is transmitted from the image formation device; and display means for displaying an image in accordance with data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, and a facsimile. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, an image forming system in which a plurality of image forming devices are connected to one network is disclosed in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 discloses that when a print command is issued to a certain image forming device, it is determined whether or not to execute printing depending on whether or not the power consumption of the entire system exceeds a predetermined power. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 6-259359 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when considering a home as an example of the usage environment, depending on the relationship between the total power consumption of other devices in the home and the power consumption of the image forming device and the rated power of the power source in the home, there is a risk that the power consumption will exceed the rated power and cause the breaker to trip.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to prevent power consumption of an image forming apparatus from exceeding its rated power when the image forming apparatus is operated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an image forming system is provided which includes an image forming apparatus and a terminal device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet, and a control means for controlling the operation of the image forming means, and the control means receives surplus power as the difference between rated power and a first power consumption which is the total of the power consumption of the one or more devices from a power measuring device to which one or more devices other than the image forming apparatus are connected, and when the control means receives a print command, it compares the surplus power with a second power consumption when an image is formed by the image forming means, and if the second power consumption is greater than the surplus power, it interrupts image formation by the image forming means and transmits data related to the interrupted image to the terminal device, and the terminal device comprises a receiving means for receiving the data related to the image transmitted from the image forming apparatus, and a display means for displaying an image according to the data. Effect of the Invention

[0007] It is possible to prevent the power consumption caused by operating the image forming apparatus from exceeding the rated power. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus [Diagram 2] A block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a controller 302. [Diagram 3] Diagram showing an image forming system [Figure 4] A graph showing the change in electricity consumption [Diagram 5] A diagram showing control of whether or not to execute printing [Figure 6] Diagram showing messages [Figure 7] Diagram showing messages DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0010] [Example 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus. A printer 102 as an image forming apparatus receives print data transmitted from a personal computer 101 as an external device. A controller unit 302 of the printer 102 generates raster data for each page based on the print data (for example, a page description language (hereinafter also referred to as PDL)) received from the personal computer 101, and sends the raster data to a printing unit 303. The printing unit 303 performs image formation by an image forming means based on the raster data transmitted from the controller unit 302. Specifically, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photosensitive drum, the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner, and the developed image is transferred and fixed to a sheet to form an image. An operation unit 301 is used as a user interface. The controller unit 302 accepts a desired operation instruction from a user via the operation unit 301. The controller unit 302 also displays the processing contents of the printer 102 and warning contents to the user via the operation unit 301.

[0011] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the controller 302. An operation unit IF unit 401 performs data communication between the operation unit 301 and the controller 302. A CPU 409 as a control means receives information set by a user on the operation unit 301 and information instructed via the operation unit IF unit 401. A network IF unit 402 communicates with the personal computer 101 via a network 413. Although a wired connection is described in Fig. 2, a configuration in which the network connection is made wirelessly may also be used.

[0012] The intermediate data creation unit 403 converts the print job received from the personal computer 101 via the network IF unit 402 into intermediate data for image formation by the printer 102. The ROM 404 holds control program codes and the like executed by the printer 102. The ROM 404 is used as a program storage area used for startup and a job spool area, and is mounted on the board of the controller 302. The RAM 405 provides a work area during processing by the CPU 409, and is an area for using various data. The data stored in the RAM 405 by the CPU 409 includes print data received via the network IF unit 402, intermediate data generated based on the print data, and bitmaps generated by rendering the intermediate data. In addition, there is various temporary processing statuses required for other processing.

[0013] The secondary storage device unit 421 stores print data and other log information received via the network IF unit 402. A non-volatile memory such as an HDD or an SD card can be used as the secondary storage device unit 421. The print unit IF unit 406 communicates between the controller 302 and the print unit 303. The CPU 409 recognizes the state of the print unit 303 via the print unit IF unit 406.

[0014] The DMA control unit 407 controls DMA transfer between the RAM 405 and the print unit IF unit 406, or between the RAM 405 and the secondary storage unit 421, etc. The CPU 409 can transmit bitmap data stored in the RAM 405 to the print unit IF unit 406 via the DMA control unit 407. The rendering unit 408 develops intermediate data into bitmap data in accordance with the intermediate data stored in the RAM 405. The developed bitmap data is stored in the RAM 405. The CPU 409 controls each device connected to the CPU bus 420 based on the control program code stored in the ROM 404.

[0015] The NVRAM 410 is a non-volatile memory for holding setting information of the printer 102. The external memory IF unit 411 can read and write various data such as image data, program data, and device setting data from a removable external memory 304 such as a USB memory. The CPU bus 420 is a bus including address, data, and control buses, and can access the aforementioned devices and IF units connected to the CPU bus 420.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an image forming system. Electricity is supplied from a power company to each home via a smart meter 202. In a house compatible with an energy management system, a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) 203 is introduced as an electric power measuring device. The HEMS 203 is mainly composed of a distribution board 204, an energy measuring unit 205, a HEMS monitor 206, and the like. Electricity is supplied from the distribution board 204 to one or more devices such as an air conditioner or a microwave oven, a printer 102 as an image forming device, a personal computer 101, and the like, via a home AC 207. The energy measuring unit 205 measures the amount of electric power currently being used, and the amount is displayed on the HEMS monitor 206. This makes it possible to display the amount of electric power consumed by the entire home and the amount of electric power consumed by each device.

[0017] The HEMS 203 can also obtain information on the amount of power used throughout the home, as well as instantaneous and accumulated power consumption, through Wi-SUN-compliant B route communication with the smart meter 202. To cooperate with the HEMS 203, the home appliances 208 and the printer 102 can communicate with the HEMS 203 through a specified low-power wireless 211, and can obtain information such as the instantaneous power consumption and accumulated power consumption of each device.

[0018] Furthermore, by installing a wireless router 209 and connecting via WiFi (413), it becomes possible to check information about the HEMS 203 on the PC 101 or tablet terminal 214. The wireless router 209 is connected to an Internet network 212, and the HEMS 203 is connected to an external server 213 via the wireless router 209. Note that although a wireless (WiFi) connection, which allows relatively free installation of devices, is used for the explanation here, a wired LAN connection may also be used for connection. The distribution board 204 is equipped with a breaker (not shown), and is also configured to turn off the breaker and cut off the power supply to the domestic AC 207 if it detects that the amount of power contracted for each household is exceeded.

[0019] As an example, Fig. 4 shows the change in the amount of power in a home where the breaker's upper limit power amount (current) is 30A. Fig. 4(a) is a table and Fig. 4(b) is a graph. The breaker cuts off the power supply when the total power consumption exceeds the contracted power for each home (hereinafter also referred to as rated power). In order to explain the breaker's upper limit power, the following will be expressed as current = power / voltage (100V). Common contracts have breaker upper limits of 20A, 30A, and 40A.

[0020] "9:00" in Fig. 4 shows the power status during normal teleworking. The printer 102 and microwave oven are in standby mode, while the personal computer 101, air conditioner, and other devices are in use, and the total power consumption is 10.8 A. In this state, the power consumption does not exceed the upper limit power amount.

[0021] "9:00 (when printing is executed)" shows the power status when printing is performed during normal teleworking. The microwave oven is in standby mode, while the printer 102, personal computer 101, air conditioner, and other devices are in use, and the total power consumption is 20.7 A. In this state, the power consumption does not exceed the upper limit power amount.

[0022] "11:30" shows the power situation before noon. The printer 102 is in standby mode, while the microwave oven, personal computer 101, air conditioner, and other devices are in use, and the total power consumption is 22.8 A. In this state, the power consumption does not exceed the upper limit power amount.

[0023] "11:30 (printing execution)" shows the power status when printing was performed just before noon. The printer 102, personal computer 101, microwave oven, air conditioner, and other devices are in use, and the total power consumption is 32.7 A. In this situation, the power consumption exceeds the upper limit power amount, so the breaker cuts off the power supply.

[0024] 5 is a diagram showing control as to whether or not to execute printing. In S501, when a user transmits a print instruction from the personal computer 101, the printer 102 receives a print job from the personal computer 101. In S102, when the printer 102 receives the print job, it determines whether or not a mode for linking with the HEMS 203 (also referred to as a HEMS linkage mode) is set. Note that the switching setting as to whether or not to set the HEMS linkage mode can be set, for example, from the operation unit 301.

[0025] If the HEMS linkage mode is set, the process proceeds to S503. If not, the process proceeds to S513. In S513, the CPU 409 of the printer 102 performs image formation. In S503, the CPU 409 communicates with the HEMS 203 via the specified low power radio 211-b to obtain information on the current power usage status and information on the usage limit value. In S504, the CPU 409 determines whether or not the power consumption is likely to exceed the upper limit power. Specifically, the CPU 409 obtains surplus power (surplus power that is the difference between the power consumption and the rated power) based on the power currently used by devices other than the printer 102. Then, the surplus power is compared with the power consumption consumed by the printer 102 during printing. If the power consumption is equal to or less than the surplus power, the rated power will not be exceeded even if the image is formed, and the CPU 409 determines that the image formation can be performed. If the power consumption is greater than the surplus power, the rated power will be exceeded (reaching the peak limit) if the image is formed, and there is a possibility that the breaker will trip, and therefore the CPU 409 determines that the image formation will not be performed.

[0026] If it is determined in S504 that the rated power will be exceeded, the process proceeds to S505, and if it is determined that the rated power will not be exceeded, the process proceeds to S513. In S505, the CPU 409 interrupts image formation, and notifies a message inquiring whether or not to display an image as shown in Fig. 6 on a display serving as a message display means provided in the operation unit 301. The user can select whether or not to display the image data for which image formation was interrupted on a terminal device such as the tablet terminal 214 or a smartphone by selecting Yes or No. If it is selected to display, the process proceeds to S506. If it is selected not to display, the process proceeds to S511.

[0027] If it is selected in S505 that the print image is not to be displayed on the tablet terminal 214 or the like, then in S511 the CPU 409 displays a message prompting the user to select whether or not to wait until printing is possible and then resume image formation, as shown in Fig. 7. If it is selected that the user should wait until printing is possible, the process proceeds to S509. If it is selected that the user should not wait until printing is possible, then in S512 the CPU 409 cancels the print job.

[0028] In S506, the CPU 409 creates data for displaying a print image to be displayed on the tablet terminal 214 or a smartphone. In S507, the CPU 409 uploads the data for displaying the print image to the cloud server 213 or the like via a network such as Wi-Fi 413-a. Note that, although the cloud server 213 has been exemplified as a storage destination for the data for displaying the print image, this is not limiting. For example, if the printer 102 is provided with a secondary storage device 421 as shown in FIG. 2, the data for displaying the print image may be stored in the secondary storage device 421.

[0029] In S508, after uploading the data, the CPU 409 notifies a preregistered email address of a communicable terminal device that preparations for displaying a print image have been completed. The user who has received the notification accesses the data from the tablet terminal 214 or smartphone and displays the print image on the tablet terminal 214 or smartphone. In S509, the CPU 409 communicates with the HEMS 203 and judges again whether or not there is a possibility that the power consumption will exceed the upper limit power amount. If it is judged that the rated power will be exceeded when printing is performed by the printer 102 (if it is judged that the peak limit will be exceeded), the CPU 409 acquires power again in S509 and updates the information. Then, it repeats the judgment of whether or not the rated power will be exceeded. If it is judged that the rated power will not be exceeded when printing is performed by the printer 102, the CPU 409 performs image formation in S510. Then, it notifies a preregistered email address that printing has been completed.

[0030] Thus, in recent years, high-function power meters that have a communication function for communicating with devices called smart meters and a management function for managing the devices are beginning to spread in homes. This smart meter is equipped with a wireless communication function as a communication function and is connected to devices such as air conditioners, lighting devices, thermometers, and security devices installed in homes and offices. In addition, a power management system called HEMS that connects to home appliances and electrical equipment to visualize the amount of electricity, gas, etc. used on a monitor screen and optimizes home appliances through automatic control is also beginning to spread. With these, even in an environment where various home appliances are connected, such as a home, the total power consumption of devices other than the image forming device in the home can be obtained. Therefore, if a user sends a print command to the image forming device at a time when there is no room for the rated power, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the rated power of the home is exceeded and the breaker trips by interrupting the printing. Furthermore, the print image can be displayed on the tablet terminal 214 or a smartphone, allowing the image whose printing has been interrupted to be confirmed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 101 Personal Computer 102 Printer 409 CPU

Claims

1. An image forming system including an image forming apparatus and a terminal device capable of communicating with the image forming apparatus, The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet; A control unit for controlling an operation of the image forming unit, The control unit receives, from a power measuring device to which one or more devices other than the image forming device are connected, surplus power as a difference between a rated power and a first power consumption which is a total of power consumptions of the one or more devices, and when receiving a print command, the control means compares the surplus power with a second power consumption when image formation is performed by the image forming means, and if the second power consumption is greater than the surplus power, interrupts image formation by the image forming means and transmits data related to the interrupted image to the terminal device; The terminal device a receiving means for receiving data relating to the image transmitted from the image forming apparatus; and a display means for displaying an image in accordance with the data.

2. The image forming system described in claim 1, characterized in that if the second power consumption is greater than the surplus power, the control means receives and updates the surplus power again from the power measuring device, compares the updated surplus power with the second power consumption, and if the second power consumption is less than or equal to the updated surplus power, causes the image forming means to perform image formation.

3. The image forming apparatus includes: A message display means for displaying a message is provided, 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the control means causes the message display means to display a message prompting the user to select whether or not to display an image on the terminal device if the second power consumption is greater than the surplus power.

4. The image forming apparatus includes: A message display means for displaying a message is provided, The image forming system according to claim 1, characterized in that, if the second power consumption is greater than the surplus power, the control means suspends image formation until the second power consumption becomes smaller than the surplus power, and then causes the message display means to display a message prompting the user to select whether or not to resume image formation.

5. an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet; A control unit for controlling an operation of the image forming unit, The control unit receives, from a power measuring device to which one or more devices other than the image forming device are connected, surplus power as a difference between a rated power and a first power consumption which is a total of power consumptions of the one or more devices, and the control means, when receiving a print command, compares the surplus power with a second power consumption when image formation is performed by the image forming means, and if the second power consumption is greater than the surplus power, interrupts image formation by the image forming means and transmits data related to the interrupted image to the terminal device; and a receiving means for receiving data relating to the image transmitted from the image forming apparatus; and a display means for displaying an image in accordance with the data.

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