JP5509723B2 - Power saving control device, power saving control program, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a power saving control device, a power saving control program, and an image forming apparatus.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an image processing apparatus including an ASIC that responds to a proxy response packet in order to exchange information with a host PC even in an energy saving mode with minimum power consumption when the main CPU is turned off. It is disclosed.

JP 2005-94679 A

  The present invention provides a power saving control device, a power saving control program, and an image forming apparatus capable of improving power saving efficiency as compared with a case of responding to reception information that can be set as a proxy response in advance. For the purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, a power saving control device according to a first aspect of the present invention receives a plurality of types of request information transmitted from an external device via a communication line, and the reception unit receives the plurality of types of request information. Among the plurality of types of request information, the transmission unit that transmits response information corresponding to the request information to the external device via the communication line and the reception frequency of each of the plurality of types of request information. Storage means for storing information indicating a correspondence relationship between at least a part of predetermined request information and response information that should be a proxy response to the predetermined request information, and power saving that is a target of power saving control The request information included in the control target unit and determined based on the reception frequency of each of the predetermined request information, response information that should be a proxy response to the request information, and priority of response Correspondence Output information for outputting the information to be indicated, and based on the information indicating the correspondence relationship output from the output means, in order from the highest priority, the request information and response information to be subjected to a proxy response to the request information And a response corresponding to the request information received by the receiving unit when the power saving control target unit is in a power saving state in which the power consumption is lower than the normal power state. Control means for controlling the transmission means to transmit the response information to the external device when information is stored in the storage means, and the output means is configured to request the request in the normal power state. processing corresponding to the information based on whether or not running, to change the priority.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, receiving means for receiving a plurality of types of request information transmitted from an external device via a communication line, response information corresponding to the request information received by the receiving means, Transmitting means for transmitting to the external device via the at least part of the plurality of types of request information determined based on the reception frequency of each of the plurality of types of request information; Response information that should be a proxy response to the set request information, a storage unit that stores information indicating a correspondence relationship between the proxy response and information indicating whether power supply efficiency is improved, and a target of power saving control The request information included in a certain power-saving control target unit and determined based on the reception frequency of each of the predetermined request information, response information that should be a proxy response to the request information, and priority of response , The output means for outputting information indicating a correspondence relationship, based on the information indicating the correspondence relationship which has been outputted from the output means, the priority in descending order, and the request information, the proxy to the request information A request received by the receiving unit when the storage unit stores a correspondence relationship with response information to be responded and the power saving control target unit is in a power saving state in which the power consumption is lower than a normal power state. Control means for controlling the transmission means to transmit the response information to the external device when response information corresponding to the information is stored in the storage means, and the output means includes the proxy The priority order is changed based on information indicating whether or not the power supply efficiency is improved by the response.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the output means changes the priority order based on whether or not a process corresponding to the request information is activated in the normal power state.

A power saving control program according to a fourth aspect of the invention causes a computer to function as each means constituting the power saving control apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects.

Image forming layer value of the invention of claim 5, wherein, the power-saving controller according to any one of claims 1 to 5, included in the power saving control target unit, an image on a recording medium And image forming means for forming the image.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve the power saving efficiency as compared with the case of responding to reception information that can be used as a proxy response regardless of the reception frequency. In addition, there is an effect that the power saving efficiency can be improved as compared with the case where the proxy response is made without setting the priority order of responses. Furthermore, compared to the case where a proxy response is made regardless of whether or not the process corresponding to the request information is activated, it is possible to prevent the response information from being sent unnecessarily.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent unnecessary response information from being transmitted compared to the case where a proxy response is made regardless of whether or not the process corresponding to the request information is activated. It has the effect.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the power saving efficiency can be improved as compared with the case of responding to the reception information that can be used as a proxy response in advance. In addition, there is an effect that the power saving efficiency can be improved as compared with the case where the proxy response is made without setting the priority order of responses. Furthermore, compared to the case where a proxy response is made regardless of whether or not the process corresponding to the request information is activated, it is possible to prevent the response information from being sent unnecessarily.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the power saving efficiency can be improved as compared with the case of responding to reception information that can be set as a proxy response in advance. In addition, there is an effect that the power saving efficiency can be improved as compared with the case where the proxy response is made without setting the priority order of responses. Furthermore, compared to the case where a proxy response is made regardless of whether or not the process corresponding to the request information is activated, it is possible to prevent the response information from being sent unnecessarily.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming system. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus. It is a schematic block diagram of a power saving control apparatus. It is a flowchart of the main routine performed by the control part of a power saving control apparatus. It is a flowchart of the process in the normal mode performed by the control part of the power saving control apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a response packet table. It is a figure which shows an example of a response packet table. It is a flowchart of the process in the power saving mode performed by the control part of the power saving control apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the process performed with the main controller which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the process in the normal mode performed by the control part of the power saving control apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the process performed with the main controller which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the process in normal mode performed by the control part of the power saving control apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the process performed with the main controller which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram at the time of comprising a power saving control apparatus including a computer.

(First embodiment)
The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic configuration of an image forming system 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the image forming system 10 has a configuration in which an image forming apparatus 12 and a plurality of host computers 14A, 14B... Are connected to each other via a network 16.

  FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatus 12. As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus 12 includes a main controller 18.

  The main controller 18 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 18A, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 18B, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 18C, a non-volatile memory 18D, and an input / output interface (I / O) 18E via a bus 18F. Each is connected.

  The I / O 18E includes an operation display unit 20, an image reading unit 22, an image forming unit 24, a paper supply unit 26, a paper discharge unit 28, a telephone line interface (I / F) 30, a hard disk 32, and a power saving control device 34. Are connected to each other. A power supply unit 36 is connected to the power saving control device 34.

  For example, the operation display unit 20 displays various buttons such as a start button for instructing the start of copying, various buttons such as a numeric keypad, a setting screen for setting various image forming conditions such as copy density, and a state of the apparatus. It is configured to include a touch panel and the like.

  The image reading unit 22 includes an image reading sensor such as a line CCD and a scanning mechanism for scanning the image reading sensor, and reads an image of a document set on the apparatus.

  The image forming unit 24 forms an image on a recording medium by, for example, a so-called electrophotographic method. Specifically, the image forming unit 24 is a charging device for charging the photosensitive drum, and the charged photosensitive drum is exposed to light corresponding to the image to expose the static on the photosensitive drum according to the image. An exposure device that forms an electrostatic latent image, a developing device that develops toner with an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum, and a transfer device that transfers a toner image corresponding to the image formed on the photosensitive drum to a recording medium The image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that fixes a toner image corresponding to the image transferred to the recording medium.

  Examples of the exposure apparatus include an optical scanning apparatus configured to include an optical system such as a semiconductor laser, a rotating polygon mirror, a collimator lens, a cylindrical lens, and an fθ lens, and an LED head composed of a plurality of LEDs.

  The paper supply unit 26 includes a paper storage unit that stores recording paper, a supply mechanism that supplies recording paper from the paper storage unit to the image forming unit 24, and the like.

  The paper discharge unit 28 includes a discharge unit for discharging the recording paper, a discharge mechanism for discharging the recording paper on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 24 onto the discharge unit, and the like.

  The telephone line communication I / F 30 is an interface for performing facsimile communication with other image forming apparatuses connected via a telephone line (not shown).

  The hard disk 32 stores, for example, log data such as the status and operating status of each part of the apparatus, log data of processing results such as copying, facsimile communication, and printing, various setting data, control programs, and the like.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the power saving control device 34 includes a controller 44 including a control unit 40 and a storage unit 42, and a communication unit 50 including a reception unit 46 and a transmission unit 48.

  As will be described in detail later, the control unit 40 analyzes the packet data from the host computer received by the receiving unit 46 via the network 16, processes according to the analysis result, and outputs the received packet data to the main controller 18. Processing, processing for transmitting response packet data corresponding to the received packet data via the transmission unit 48, and the like are executed. The storage unit 42 stores response packet data corresponding to the packet data received by the receiving unit 46.

  The power supply unit 36 supplies power to each unit of the image forming apparatus 12 in addition to the main controller 18 when the apparatus is in the normal mode in response to an instruction from the power saving control apparatus 34, and when the apparatus is in the power saving mode. The power is supplied only to the power saving control device 34 and the power supply to other functional units such as the main controller 18 is cut off.

  In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 12 is supplied with power only to a normal mode in which power is supplied to the entire apparatus and can perform normal operation, and power is supplied only to some functional units, for example, the power saving control device 34, and other functions. A case will be described in which the operation is performed in any one of a power saving mode in which power supply to the unit is cut off to save power.

  Next, as an operation of the present exemplary embodiment, processing executed by the control unit 40 of the power saving control device 34 of the image forming apparatus 12 will be described with reference to a flowchart.

  FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a main routine executed by the control unit 40 of the power saving control device 34. This process is executed when the image forming apparatus 12 is turned on.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in step 100, processing in the normal mode as shown in FIG. 5 is executed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in step 200, it is determined whether or not packet data as request information has been received from the host computer via the network 16. If not received, the process proceeds to step 204.

  In step 202, the received packet data is transferred to the main controller 18 as it is.

  In step 204, it is determined whether or not a response packet table 60 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the response packet table 60 is a correspondence relationship between predetermined reception packet data that can be used as a proxy response, response packet data, and response priority among a plurality of types of packet data that can be received. In the power saving mode, a packet that can be subjected to a proxy response by the power saving control device 34 is defined. Note that the response packet is not shown.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, as protocols of packets that can be received via the network 16, ARP (Address Resolution Protocol), ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol), IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol), SNMP (SNMP). Simple Network Management Protocol (WSD), Web Services on Devices (WSD), Internet Printing Protocol (IPP), Server Message Block (SMB), MLDv2 (Multicast Listeners) There, but is not limited to this.

This response packet table 60 is generated by the main controller 18 from the response packet table 70 as shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the response packet table 70 includes predetermined received packet data that can be used as a proxy response among a plurality of types of packet data that can be received, response packet data, and predetermined default priorities for responses. Information indicating whether or not the power supply efficiency is improved by the proxy response, information indicating whether or not the received packet data is valid (whether or not the protocol corresponding to the received packet data is activated ) , and the current status regarding the response Is a piece of information indicating the correspondence between the priority order and the hard disk 32. The packet data registered in the response packet table 70 can be used as a proxy response by the power saving control device 34.

  Note that the default priority is basically higher for packets with higher reception frequency. In addition, if the information indicating whether or not the power supply efficiency is improved by the proxy response is “◯”, the reception frequency is basically high, and the power saving control device 34 improves the power saving efficiency by performing the proxy response. The default priority is higher. Note that the default priority order may be set by the user.

  In the normal mode, the main controller 18 monitors whether or not the protocol corresponding to the received packet data is activated, and updates the result as information indicating whether or not the received packet data in the response packet table 70 is valid. If the protocol corresponding to the received packet data is activated, the received packet data is valid. If the protocol corresponding to the received packet data is not activated, the received packet data is invalid. Then, the main controller 18 determines the current priority order based on the default priority order for the information indicating whether the received packet data is valid.

  The main controller 18 extracts information indicating the correspondence relationship between the received packet data, the response packet data, and the current priority of the response from the response packet table 70, generates the response packet table 60, and performs power saving control. To device 34.

  In step 206, information indicating the correspondence between the received packet data and the response packet data is stored in a predetermined storage area of the storage unit 42 in descending order of priority of the response packet table 60. In this case, when the storage capacity of the predetermined storage area of the storage unit 42 is equal to or greater than the data amount of the response packet table 60, information indicating the correspondence between all received packet data and response packet data is stored in the storage area. Although stored, if the storage capacity of the predetermined storage area of the storage unit 42 is less than the data amount of the response packet table 60, the lower priority is not stored.

  In step 208, it is determined whether or not the transition to the power saving mode has been notified from the main controller 18. If the transition to the power saving mode is notified, the process proceeds to step 210. Return to step 200.

  In the present embodiment, as an example, whether or not to shift to the power saving mode is determined by the main controller 18. For example, when there is no operation or operation instruction for the image forming apparatus 12 for a predetermined time or longer, the main controller 18 is a functional unit other than the power saving control device 34 (power saving control target) in order to shift from the normal mode to the power saving mode. To the power saving control device 34 so as to stop the power supply to the power saving control unit 34).

  In step 210, the power supply unit 36 is instructed to stop power supply to functional units other than the power saving control device 34 such as the main controller 18. Thereby, the power supply unit 36 cuts off the power supply to the functional units other than the power saving control device 34.

  In step 102 of FIG. 4, processing in the power saving mode as shown in FIG. 8 is executed.

  In step 300 shown in FIG. 8, it is determined whether or not the communication unit 50 has received packet data from the host computer. If received, the process proceeds to step 302. If not, the packet data is received. Wait until

  In step 302, it is determined whether or not the received packet data is proxy response impossible. If proxy response is not possible, the process proceeds to step 304. If proxy response is possible, the process proceeds to step 308. Whether the proxy response is impossible or not is determined by referring to the response packet table 60 stored in the storage unit 42 and determining whether or not the received packet data is included in the response packet table 60.

  In step 304, the power supply unit 36 is instructed to resume power supply to the main controller 18. As a result, the power supply unit 36 resumes the power supply to the function unit such as the main controller 18 that has been cut off.

  In step 306, the received packet data is transmitted to the main controller 18 in which power supply has been resumed. As a result, the main controller 18 executes processing corresponding to the received packet data.

  On the other hand, in step 308, the response packet table 60 stored in the storage unit 42 is referred to, response packet data corresponding to the received packet data is read, and this is transmitted to the transmission source host computer via the transmission unit 48. .

  Next, processing executed by the CPU 18A of the main controller 18 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. The processing program is stored in advance in the hard disk 32, for example. When power is supplied to each function unit such as the main controller 18, the data is read from the hard disk 32 to the RAM 18C, and this is read and executed by the CPU 18A.

  In step 400, it is determined whether or not packet data has been received from the power saving control device 34. If received, the process proceeds to step 402. If not received, the process proceeds to step 404.

  In step 402, response packet data corresponding to the received packet data is transmitted to the transmission source host computer via the power saving control device 34. Also, processing corresponding to the received packet data is executed. For example, when the received packet data is print data, the image forming unit 24 is controlled so that an image based on the received print data is formed on the recording medium.

  In step 404, whether or not the activation state of the protocol corresponding to the received packet data included in the response packet table 70 has changed, that is, the non-activated state becomes the activated state, or the activated state becomes the unactivated state. When there is a change in the activation state, it is necessary to update the response packet table 70, so the process proceeds to step 406, and there is no change in the activation state. Since it is not necessary to update the response packet table 70, the process proceeds to step 410.

  In step 406, the response packet table 70 is updated by rewriting information indicating whether or not the received packet data is valid corresponding to the protocol whose activation state has changed, and rewriting the current priority. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, when a corresponding protocol is changed from an activated state to a non-activated state and a packet data is invalidated, the priority assigned to the packet data is set to none, The priority of the next priority packet data is increased by one. The lower the numerical value, the higher the priority.

  Then, from the updated response packet table 70, information indicating the correspondence relationship between the received packet data, the response packet data, and the current priority of the response is extracted to generate the response packet table 60.

  In step 408, the generated response packet table 60 is transmitted to the power saving control device 34.

  In step 410, it is determined whether or not to shift to the power saving mode based on, for example, whether or not an operation or an operation instruction for the image forming apparatus 12 has exceeded a predetermined time, and it is determined to shift to the power saving mode. If yes, go to Step 412; otherwise, go to Step 400.

  In step 412, the power saving control device 34 is notified that it should shift to the power saving mode. The power saving control device 34 notifies the power supply unit 36 to cut off the power supply to the functional units other than the power saving control device 34. As a result, the power supply to each functional unit such as the main controller 18 is cut off, and this routine ends.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the main controller 18 generates a response packet table 60 that is determined based on the priority order and the like that should be a proxy response during the power saving mode, and transmits the response packet table 60 to the power saving control device 34. The power saving control device 34 makes a proxy response based on the received response packet table 60.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part as 1st Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Since the image forming system 10 according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  Next, as an operation of the present exemplary embodiment, processing executed by the control unit 40 of the power saving control device 34 of the image forming apparatus 12 will be described with reference to a flowchart.

  In the present embodiment, the process shown in FIG. 10 is executed in the normal mode process in step 100 of FIG.

  In step 500 shown in FIG. 10, as in step 200 of FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not packet data is received from the host computer via the network 16, and if packet data is received, the process proceeds to step 502. If no packet data has been received, the process proceeds to step 516.

  In step 502, the received packet data is transferred to the main controller 18 as it is, and the received packet data is stored in the storage unit 42 as reception history information together with the reception time. For example, the reception history information is stored for a predetermined time from the present to the past, and is deleted from the old information.

  In step 504, it is determined whether or not response packet data corresponding to the received packet data transferred to the main controller 18 in step 502 has been input from the main controller 18. If response packet data has been input, the process proceeds to step 506. If the response packet data is not input, it waits until it is input.

  In step 506, the response packet data is output to the transmission unit 48 of the communication unit 50, and is stored as reception history information in association with the reception packet data received in step 500. As a result, the response packet data is transmitted to the transmission source host computer.

  In step 508, based on the reception history information, how many times each received packet data is received within a predetermined time, that is, a reception frequency is obtained.

  In step 510, the response packet table is updated by associating a predetermined number of received packet data and response packet data in the response packet table in descending order of the reception frequency obtained in step 508. If the number of types of received packet data exceeds a predetermined number, the received packet data with lower priority is not registered in the response packet table.

  Steps 516 and 518 are the same as steps 208 and 210 in FIG.

  Further, the processing in the power saving mode in step 102 of FIG. 4 is executed because the same processing as the processing shown in FIG. 8 is executed.

  Next, processing executed by the CPU 18A of the main controller 18 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  In addition, about the step which performs the process same as the process shown in FIG. 9, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The process shown in FIG. 11 differs from the process shown in FIG. 9 in that the processes in steps 404 to 408 in FIG. 9 are omitted.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the power-saving control device 34 determines a packet to be subjected to a proxy response based on the reception frequency of the received packet data, and the main controller 18 does not particularly perform a process related to the proxy response.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part as said each embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Since the image forming system 10 according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  Next, as an operation of the present exemplary embodiment, processing executed by the control unit 40 of the power saving control device 34 of the image forming apparatus 12 will be described with reference to a flowchart.

  In the present embodiment, the process shown in FIG. 12 is executed in the normal mode process in step 100 of FIG. In addition, about the step which performs the process same as the process shown in FIG. 10, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The process shown in FIG. 12 is different from the process shown in FIG. 10 only in that the process of step 511 is added.

  In step 511, the updated response packet table is transmitted to the main controller 18.

  Further, the processing in the power saving mode in step 102 of FIG. 4 is executed because the same processing as the processing shown in FIG. 8 is executed.

  Next, processing executed by the CPU 18A of the main controller 18 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

  In addition, about the step which performs the process same as the process shown in FIG. 9, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The process shown in FIG. 13 is different from the process shown in FIG. 9 only in the processes of steps 409A and 409B.

  In step 409A, it is determined whether or not a response packet table has been received from the power saving control device 34. If received, the process proceeds to step 409B, and if not received, the process proceeds to step 410.

  In step 409B, the response packet table 70 shown in FIG. 7 is updated based on the received response packet table. That is, in the received response packet table, received packet data and response packet data are associated in descending order of reception frequency, that is, received packet data and response packet data are associated in descending order of priority. The current priority order in the response packet table 70 is rewritten so that the priority order is reached. Of the received response packet table, received packet data and response packet data that are not registered in the response packet table 70 are newly registered in the response packet table 70. As a result, packet data with a high reception frequency is always registered in the response packet table 70.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the response packet table generated based on the reception frequency of the received packet data by the power saving control device 34 is transmitted to the main controller 18, and the main controller 18 finally substitutes based on this response packet table. Decide which packet to respond to.

  In the first to third embodiments, the main controller 18 monitors all received packets in the normal mode to calculate the reception frequency, and other than the received packets registered in the response packet table 70 shown in FIG. For those having a high reception frequency, the received packet data and the response packet data may be transmitted to the power saving control device 34 and replaced with those registered in the response packet table 60 stored in the storage unit 42.

  For example, when a management information base (MIB), which is management information of a device connected to the network 16, is requested by an SNMP packet, if the proxy response cannot be made to all MIBs due to capacity, the main controller 18 By monitoring the received packet, even if the packet is not registered in the response packet table 70 at the beginning, a proxy response is made for a packet that has a high reception frequency. Be changed.

  In each of the above embodiments, the controller 44 of the power saving control device 34 may be configured as a computer 80 as shown in FIG. 14 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 80A, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 80B, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 80C, a non-volatile memory 80D, and an input / output interface (I / O) 80E. The communication unit 50 is connected to the I / O 80E. In this case, a program that causes the computer 80 to execute the processes shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8 to 11 is written in, for example, the nonvolatile memory 80D, and is read and executed by the CPU 80A. Thereby, the computer 80 functions as the main controller 18 of the power saving control device 34. The program may be provided by a recording medium such as a CD-ROM.

  The configurations of the image forming apparatus 12 and the power saving control apparatus 34 described in the present embodiment (see FIGS. 2 and 3) are examples, and unnecessary portions may be deleted without departing from the scope of the present invention. It goes without saying that new parts may be added.

  The processing flow of the control program described in the present embodiment (see FIGS. 5 to 11) is also an example, and unnecessary steps can be deleted or new steps can be added without departing from the scope of the present invention. Needless to say, they may be added or the processing order may be changed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming system 12 Image forming apparatus 14A, 14B Host computer 16 Network 18 Main controller 20 Operation display part 22 Image reading part 24 Image forming part 26 Paper supply part 28 Paper discharge part 32 Hard disk 34 Power saving control apparatus 36 Power supply part 40 Control unit 42 Storage unit 44 Controller 46 Reception unit 48 Transmission unit 50 Communication unit 60 Response packet table 70 Response packet table 80 Computer

Claims (5)

Receiving means for receiving a plurality of types of request information transmitted from an external device via a communication line;
Transmitting means for transmitting response information corresponding to the request information received by the receiving means to the external device via the communication line;
At least a part of the plurality of types of request information determined based on the reception frequency of each of the plurality of types of request information, and a response that should be a proxy response to the predetermined request information Storage means for storing information indicating a correspondence relationship with the information;
The request information included in the power saving control target unit that is the target of power saving control, and determined based on the reception frequency of each of the predetermined request information, and response information that should be a proxy response to the request information And output means for outputting information indicating the correspondence relationship between the response priority and response,
Based on the information indicating the correspondence relation output from the output means, the correspondence relation between the request information and the response information to be subjected to a proxy response to the request information in descending order of priority is stored in the storage means. And the response information corresponding to the request information received by the receiving means is stored in the storage means when the power saving control target unit is in a power saving state in which the power consumption is lower than the normal power state. Control means for controlling the transmission means so as to transmit the response information to the external device,
The output unit is a power saving control device that changes the priority order based on whether or not a process corresponding to the request information is activated in the normal power state. Receiving means for receiving a plurality of types of request information transmitted from an external device via a communication line;
Transmitting means for transmitting response information corresponding to the request information received by the receiving means to the external device via the communication line;
At least a part of the plurality of types of request information determined based on the reception frequency of each of the plurality of types of request information, and a response that should be a proxy response to the predetermined request information Storage means for storing information indicating a correspondence relationship between information and information indicating whether power supply efficiency is improved by the proxy response;
The request information included in the power saving control target unit that is the target of power saving control, and determined based on the reception frequency of each of the predetermined request information, and response information that should be a proxy response to the request information And output means for outputting information indicating the correspondence relationship between the response priority and response,
Based on the information indicating the correspondence relation output from the output means, the correspondence relation between the request information and the response information to be subjected to a proxy response to the request information in descending order of priority is stored in the storage means. And the response information corresponding to the request information received by the receiving means is stored in the storage means when the power saving control target unit is in a power saving state in which the power consumption is lower than the normal power state. Control means for controlling the transmission means so as to transmit the response information to the external device,
The output means is a power saving control device that changes the priority order based on information indicating whether power supply efficiency is improved by the proxy response. And the output means, the normal based on whether processing corresponding to the request information in the power state is activated, to change the priority claim 2 Symbol mounting power saving control device. The power saving control program for functioning a computer as each means which comprises the power saving control apparatus of any one of Claims 1-3 . The power saving control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
An image forming unit included in the power saving control target unit for forming an image on a recording medium;
An image forming apparatus.

Images