Patent ID: 8441661
Filing Date: 2013-05-14
Classification: G03G,G06F,G06K

Abstract:
1. An image processing apparatus, comprising: a platform serving as a basis for operations; and a plurality of plugins installed in the platform in an uninstallable manner to cause a plurality of devices to perform functions, wherein the platform includes: a power control unit to control supply of power to the devices; a first power control interface to transmit to the plugins an advanced notice of shutdown that is to be performed by the power control unit, wherein each of the plugins includes: a second power control interface to receive the advanced notice of shutdown from the first power control interface; and a power processing control unit to make a preparation for shutdown in response to the advanced notice of shutdown received through the second power control interface, and to send information about the preparation to the power control unit through the second power control interface, wherein the power control unit controls supply of power to at least one of the devices based on the information about the preparation received from at least one of the plugins, and wherein the plurality of plugins have a first plugin configured to cancel an ongoing function when the first plugin receives the advanced notice of shutdown, and a second plugin configured to restart another ongoing function after the supply of power is resumed when the second plugin receives the advanced notice of shutdown; wherein a given one of the plugins causes one of the devices to print an image on a print medium, and a shutdown performable state is a state in which the print medium is discharged from the one of the devices, and wherein the power processing control unit sends an indication of completion of the preparation as the information about the preparation to the power control unit upon the one of the devices being in the shutdown performable state; said image processing apparatus further comprising: a first counter to count a first number indicative of a number of print medium for which the fuse process is completed; and a second counter to count a second number indicative of a number of fuse-completed print medium which have been discharged to outside the image processing apparatus, wherein a given one of the plugins causes one of the devices to print an image on a print medium, to perform a fuse process on the print medium having the image printed thereon, and to discharge the fuse-completed print medium to outside the image processing apparatus, and a shutdown performable state is a state in which the first number matches the second number, and wherein the power processing control unit sends an indication of completion of the preparation as the information about the preparation to the power control unit upon the one of the devices being in the shutdown performable state.