Image Forming Apparatus Power Saving Mode Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional job history management systems struggle to accurately manage the status of image forming apparatuses, as they cannot transmit status information when in power saving mode, leading to potential false error notifications.
Innovation Solution
The image forming apparatus includes a first transmission unit for job information and a control unit to prevent power saving mode during transmission, and a second transmission unit for status information, which only transmits if the apparatus is not in power saving mode, and indicates permission to enter power saving mode if job information is not transmitted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If the image forming apparatus enters power saving mode to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but status information cannot be transmitted to the server
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single transmission function into two separate transmission units: one dedicated to job information transmission and another dedicated to status information transmission. This segmentation allows the status information transmission to be independently controlled and scheduled, enabling it to operate even when the apparatus is in power saving mode, thus resolving the contradiction between power consumption reduction and status information transmission.
2Reliability
If the server does not receive status information within the regular interval, then the server determines that an error has occurred, but this leads to false error notifications when the apparatus is merely in power saving mode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the transmission unit provides information to the server about whether the apparatus is in power saving mode. This feedback allows the server to distinguish between genuine errors and the normal state of power saving mode, preventing false error notifications while maintaining reliable error detection for actual problems.
3Loss of information
If the job history management agent transmits status information, then detailed information about the apparatus is acquired, but the CPU must remain working and the apparatus cannot enter power saving mode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by scheduling status information transmission to occur at specific intervals or at designated wake-up times, rather than continuously. This allows the apparatus to enter power saving mode between transmission periods, reducing power consumption while still providing detailed apparatus information to the server at regular intervals.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a job history control unit and a status control unit. If the job history control unit is transmitting a job history when the status control unit transmits status information to a management server, the status control unit transmits status information including prohibition against entering a power saving mode. If the job history control unit is not transmitting a job history, the status control unit transmits status information including permission to enter the power saving mode to the management server.