Patent ID: 6851781
Filing Date: 2005-02-08
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling an operation of a battery-operated printing apparatus according to a remaining amount of battery power, the printing apparatus executing required printing based on received control data and print data, which comprises steps of: (a) obtaining status information indicating a present status of said battery power from the printing apparatus to determine a remaining amount of said battery power; (b) establishing one of a normal process mode, a power saving process mode and a print stop mode on a basis of the determined remaining amount of the battery power, said normal process mode being established when the battery power is in a first status in which the remaining amount of the battery power is at least a predetermined amount, said power saving process mode being established when the battery power is in a second status in which the remaining amount of the battery power is lower than that of the first status, and said print stop mode being in a third status where the remaining amount of the battery power is lower than that of the second status; (c) upon receiving a print request, producing normal data comprising normal control data and normal print data to operate the printing apparatus at rated power consumption when said normal process mode is established, or producing at least power saving data including power saving print data to enable to print at smaller power consumption than at least power consumption in said normal process mode when said power saving process mode is established; and (d) sending to said printing apparatus said normal data produced when said normal process mode is established; or sending to said printing apparatus said power saving data produced when said power saving process mode is established, wherein the second status of the battery power includes a plurality of stages corresponding to respective amounts of battery power remaining within the second status, each stage having a particular kind of power saving data associated with it, and when said power saving process mode is established in step (c), the kind of power saving data corresponding to the particular stage of the battery power is produced.