Image forming systems, and methods of using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018063342-A1
Application number	US-201715806206-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 7, 2017
Priority date	Nov 29, 2013
Publication date	Mar 1, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

At least one image processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store configuration information of an image forming apparatus, a return unit configured to return the image processing apparatus from a power saving state when the image processing apparatus detects a predetermined condition, and a request unit configured to transmit a request for acquiring the configuration information of the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus when the return unit returns the image processing apparatus from the power saving state. The image forming apparatus includes a transmission unit configured to transmit the configuration information of the image forming apparatus to the image processing apparatus based on the request transmitted by the request unit. Further, the image processing apparatus includes an update unit configured to update the configuration information stored in the storage unit by using the configuration information of the image forming apparatus transmitted by the transmission unit.

First claim

1 . (canceled)

2 . An image forming system comprising:
an image processing apparatus that generates image data and transmits the image data; and an image forming apparatus that executes printing using the image data transmitted from the image processing apparatus, wherein the image processing apparatus includes: a first interface which receives a predetermined request from an external apparatus; a controller which shifts a state of the image processing apparatus to a first power state from a second power state in which power consumption is lower than power consumption in the first power state in accordance with the predetermined request; and a second interface which transmits predetermined information to the image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus includes: a third interface which receives the predetermined information from the image processing apparatus and then transmits information about the image forming apparatus to the image processing apparatus, and wherein the second interface receives the information about the image forming apparatus and the first interface transmits a response to the predetermined request using the received information about the image forming apparatus.

3 . The image forming system according to claim 2 , wherein the second interface periodically obtains the information about the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus.

4 . The image forming system according to claim 3 , wherein the second interface periodically obtains the information about the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus when the image processing apparatus is in the first power state, and the second interface is not able to obtain the information about the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus when the image processing apparatus is in the second power state.

5 . The image forming system according to claim 2 , wherein the second interface notifies the image forming apparatus of reception of the information.

6 . The image forming system according to claim 2 , wherein the second interface is not able to transmit the predetermined information to the image forming apparatus while the image processing apparatus is in the second power state.

7 . The image forming system according to claim 2 , wherein the second interface responds to another request different from the predetermined request from the external apparatus in a state that the image processing apparatus is in the second power state.

8 . The image forming system according to claim 7 , wherein the another request is an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) request, a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) state acquisition request, or an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) neighbor discovery request.

9 . The image forming system according to claim 2 , wherein the information includes at least one of:
(A) a type of finisher connected to the image forming apparatus, (B) a setting value of the finisher, (C) a sheet type or a sheet size of sheets stored in a sheet storage unit of the image forming apparatus, (D) a remaining amount of sheets stored in the sheet storage unit, (E) a remaining amount of toner of the image forming apparatus, (F) a location of the image forming apparatus, and (G) a sheet discharge information about the image forming apparatus.

10 . The image forming system according to claim 2 , wherein the controller is able to shift the state of the image processing apparatus from the first power state to the second power state.

11 . The image forming system according to claim 10 , wherein the second interface transmits the predetermined information to the image forming apparatus when a factor to shift the state of the image processing apparatus from the first power state to the second power state is detected, and then the controller shifts the state of the image processing apparatus from the first power state to the second power state.

12 . An image processing apparatus that generates image data and transmits the image data to an image forming apparatus that executes printing using the image data, the image processing apparatus comprising:
a first interface which receives a predetermined request from an external apparatus; a controller which shifts a state of the image processing apparatus to a first power state from a second power state in which power consumption is lower than power consumption in the first power state in accordance with the predetermined request; and a second interface which transmits predetermined information to the image forming apparatus, wherein the second interface receives the information about the image forming apparatus as a response to the predetermined information and the first interface transmits a response to the predetermined request using the received information about the image forming apparatus.

13 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the second interface periodically obtains the information about the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus.

14 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the second interface periodically obtains the information about the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus when the image processing apparatus is in the first power state, and the second interface is not able to obtain the information about the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus when the image processing apparatus is in the second power state.

15 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the second interface notifies the image forming apparatus of reception of the information.

16 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the second interface is not able to transmit the predetermined information to the image forming apparatus while the image processing apparatus is in the second power state.

17 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the second interface responds to another request different from the predetermined request from the external apparatus in a state that the image processing apparatus is in the second power state.

18 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein the another request is an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) request, a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) state acquisition request, or an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) neighbor discovery request.

19 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the information includes at least one of:
(A) a type of finisher connected to the image forming apparatus, (B) a setting value of the finisher, (C) a sheet type or a sheet size of sheets stored in a sheet storage unit of the image forming apparatus, (D) a remaining amount of sheets stored in the sheet storage unit, (E) a remaining amount of toner of the image forming apparatus, (F) a location of the image forming apparatus, and (G) a sheet discharge information about the image forming apparatus.

20 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the controller is able to shift the state of the image processing apparatus from the first power state to the second power state.

21 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the second interface transmits the predetermined information to the image forming apparatus when a factor to shift the state of the image processing apparatus from the first power state to the second power sta

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Oba Yoshitaka

Classifications

• G06F3/1285

  Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server · CPC title

• G06F3/1231

  Device related settings, e.g. IP address, Name, Identification · CPC title

• G06F3/1232

  Transmitting printer device capabilities, e.g. upon request or periodically · CPC title

• G06F3/1229

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

• H04N2201/0094

  Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception · CPC title