Patent ID: 7864348
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A printing apparatus being connected to a host and having a standby mode and an energy saving mode, the standby mode being capable of receiving print data and of starting printing processing for the received print data without requiring warming-up and the energy saving mode being capable of receiving the print data and of starting the printing processing for the received print data after warming-up, the printing apparatus comprising: a print data receiving section for receiving print data from the host, the print data being provided with a first, second or third degree of urgency and in case of the second degree of urgency, the print data being further provided with a designated holding time for designating a holding time after the reception of the print data; a printing control section for changing modes between the standby mode and the energy saving mode for receiving the print data and for performing control of the printing processing for the received print data; and a printing section for executing the printing processing; wherein, upon the reception of the print data in the energy saving mode, the printing control section changes the mode to the standby mode for starting the printing processing for the received print data or maintains the energy saving mode for suspending the printing processing for the received print data based on the degree of urgency provided with the received print data; a data storage section for holding the received print data temporally; and a holding-time monitoring section for measuring an elapsed time from the reception of the print data; wherein when the print data being provided with a first degree of urgency is received in the energy saving mode, the printing control section changes the mode to the standby mode for starting the printing processing for the print data, when the print data being provided with a second degree of urgency is received together with the designated holding time in the energy saving mode, the printing control section keeps the energy saving mode, performs control of holding the print data in the data storage section and, after the designated holding time elapses, performs control of the warming-up and of the succeeding printing processing for the held print data, and when the print data being provided with a third degree of urgency is received in the energy saving mode, the printing control section keeps the energy saving mode, performs control of holding the print data in the data storage section and, upon reception of print data having the first or second degree of urgency thereafter, performs control of the warming-up and of succeeding printing processing for the held print data along with the received print data having the first or second degree of urgency.