Patent ID: 8068248
Filing Date: 2011-11-29
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An information notification device of an image forming apparatus having a printer engine being configured to form images on a recording medium and a power supply unit being configured to supply electrical power to the printer engine, the information notification device comprising: a memory unit being configured to record first equipment information indicating an internal state of the printer engine; a request reception unit being configured to receive requests from outside for second equipment information indicating a current state of the printer engine while electrical power is not supplied to the printer engine by the power supply unit; a notification unit being configured to transmit the first or second equipment information, wherein when the second equipment information being a subject of a request received by the request reception unit is first attribute information indicating a low rate of change with time, the power supply unit does not supply electrical power to the printer engine and the notification unit transmits the first equipment information stored in the memory unit, and when the second equipment information being the subject of the request is second attribute information indicating a rate of change with time being higher than that of the first attribute information, the power supply unit supplies electrical power to the printer engine, and the notification unit obtains the second equipment information from the printer engine being supplied with electrical power by the power supply unit, and the notification unit transmits the second equipment information; an update unit being configured to update the first equipment information stored in the memory unit with the second equipment information, when the second equipment information that is the subject of a request is second attribute information; and a measurement unit being configured to measure a standby time from when the update unit updates the first equipment information until the request reception unit receives a request for the second equipment information from outside, wherein when the second equipment information that is the subject of a request is third attribute information having a rate of change with time higher than the first attribute information and lower than the second attribute information and the standby time is equal to or greater than a predetermined time, the power supply unit supplies electrical power to the printer engine, when the second equipment information that is the subject of a request is the third attribute information and the standby time is equal to or greater than the predetermined time, the notification unit obtains the second equipment information from the printer engine to which electrical power has been supplied, and transmits the second equipment information, and when the second equipment information that is the subject of a request is the third attribute information and the standby time is less than the predetermined time, the notification unit transmits the first equipment information recorded in the memory unit.