Image processing apparatus obtaining a record of an event having occurred during the transition of the main CPU from sleep to normal operation and recording medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10353650-B2
Application number	US-201815948150-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2018
Priority date	Apr 20, 2017
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes: one or more than one sensor that senses an event on the image processing apparatus; a first memory; a main CPU that loses power supply while sleep mode is on; and a subordinate CPU that receives power supply even while sleep mode is on. The subordinate CPU performs: terminating sleep mode; judging whether not an event occurs on the image processing apparatus by inquiring of the one or more than one sensor, at predetermined intervals during the transition of the main CPU from sleep to normal operation; and storing a record of an event on the first memory if it occurs. After the transition, the main CPU retrieves the record from the first memory and performs processing using it.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:
one or more than one sensor that senses an event on the image processing apparatus;
a first memory;
a main CPU that loses power supply while sleep mode is on; and
a subordinate CPU that receives power supply even while sleep mode is on,

wherein:
the subordinate CPU performs: terminating sleep mode based on the one or more than one sensor detecting a first event to begin a transition of the main CPU from sleep to normal operation; determining whether a second event occurs after the first event on the image processing apparatus by inquiring of the one or more than one sensor, at predetermined intervals during the transition of the main CPU from sleep to normal operation; and responsive to a determination that the second event occurs, storing on the first memory the second event; and
after the transition, the main CPU retrieves the second record from the first memory and performs processing using it.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein after sleep mode is terminated, the subordinate CPU makes the determination at the predetermined intervals during the transition, the predetermined intervals being shorter than those in sleep mode.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a document cover event sensor that senses opening and closing of a document cover for covering a platen, the document cover event sensor serving as the one or more than one sensor;
a first document size sensor that senses a main scanning dimension of a document set on the platen, by inquiring of a document reader that reads the document; and
a second document size sensor that senses a sub-scanning dimension of the document, wherein:
the subordinate CPU stores on the first memory the second event as being an event sensed by the document cover event sensor, the event being the opening and closing of the document cover; and
after the transition, the main CPU performs: retrieving the second event from the first memory, the record second event indicating the opening and closing of the document cover; and judging the size of the document with reference to the main scanning and sub-scanning dimensions having being sensed by the first and second document size sensors during the transition of the main CPU to normal operation.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a front door event sensor that senses opening and closing of a front door of the image processing apparatus, the front door event sensor serving as the one or more than one sensor, wherein:
the subordinate CPU stores on the first memory the second event as being an event sensed by front door event sensor, the event being the opening and closing of the front door; and
after the transition, the main CPU retrieves the second event from the first memory, the second event indicating the opening and closing of the front door, and resets status.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an operation panel having a screen display key for displaying a registered screen;
a screen display key-pressing sensor that senses pressing of the screen display key, the screen display key-pressing sensor serving as the one or more than one sensor; and
a panel processor that controls a set of hardware keys including the screen display key of the operation panel as instructed by the main CPU,

wherein:
the subordinate CPU stores on the first memory the second event as being an event sensed by the screen display key-pressing sensor, the event being the pressing of the screen display key; and
after the transition, the main CPU retrieves the second event the first memory, the second event indicating the pressing of the screen display key, and transmits a notice to the panel processor.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an authentication sensor that senses success or failure of authentication provided by an authentication device that performs user authentication, the authentication sensor serving as the one or more than one sensor, wherein:
the subordinate CPU stores on the first memory user identification information and the second event as being an event sensed by the authentication sensor, the event being the success of authentication; and
after the transition, the main CPU retrieves the user identification information and the second event from the first memory, the second event indicating the success of authentication, and obtains credentials associated with the user identification information.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the authentication device is an external authentication device and performs user authentication as instructed by the subordinate CPU.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the subordinate CPU stores the second event and additional events occurring after the first event on the first memory in chronological order, the second event and the additional events indicating events being sensed by the one or more than one sensor.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the subordinate CPU stores the second event and additional events occurring after the first event on the first memory such that the second event and additional events are classified by sensor.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a document cover event sensor that senses opening and closing of a document cover for covering a platen, the document cover event sensor serving as the one or more than one sensor;
an operation panel having a screen display key for displaying a user-specific registered screen;
a screen display key-pressing sensor that senses the pressing of the screen display key, the screen display key-pressing sensor serving as the one or more than one sensor; and
an authentication sensor that senses success or failure of the authentication provided by an authentication device that performs user authentication, the authentication sensor serving as the one or more than one sensor,

wherein, before the authentication sensor senses the success of authentication, the subordinate CPU stores on the first memory the second event as being an event sensed by the document cover event sensor, the event being the opening and closing of the document cover, but does not store a record on the first memory, the record indicating an event sensed by the screen display key-pressing sensor, the event being the pressing of the screen display key.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a document cover event sensor that senses opening and closing of a document cover for covering a platen, the document cover event sensor serving as the one or more than one sensor;
an operation panel having a screen display key for displaying a user-specific registered screen;
a screen display key-pressing sensor that senses pressing of the screen display key, the screen display key-pressing sensor serving as the one or more than one sensor; and
an authentication sensor that senses success or failure of the authentication provided by an authentication device that performs user authentication, the authentication sensor serving as the one or more than one sensor,

wherein, after the authentication sensor senses the success of authentication, the subordinate CPU stores records on the first memory, the records indicating events sensed by the document cover event sensor and the screen display key-pressing sensor, the events being the opening and closing of the document cover and the pressing of the scree

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Tsukada Koji

Classifications

• G06F3/1229

  Printer resources management or printer maintenance, e.g. device status, power levels · CPC title

• H04N1/00896

  using a low-power mode, e.g. standby · CPC title

• G06F21/31

  User authentication · CPC title

• G06F3/1221 Primary

  with regard to power consumption · CPC title

• G06F1/26

  Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C) · CPC title