Patent Publication Number: US-9898023-B2

Title: Power management method, power management server, and office machine for managing electric power

Description:
FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to a power management method and a power management server for managing schedules (hereinafter also referred to as plans) of operation state transitions of devices such as a computer and an image forming apparatus and an office machine for managing electric power. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Among personal computers and MFPs, there is a device including a function of transitioning an operation state according to a schedule set inside the device in order to suppress power consumption during standby and a function of transitioning an operation state according to a schedule set in a management apparatus by a system administrator according to a policy such as power saving of a company or the like. 
     However, when the schedules are set both inside the device and in the management apparatus, during transition of a device operation state corresponding to the schedule of the management apparatus, the device operation state also transitions even if power consumption is higher in a transition planned operation state in the management apparatus schedule than in the present operation state of the device that transitioned beforehand according to the schedule inside the device. 
     The related art is described in JP-A-2002-292973. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram showing a system configuration example of an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram showing a configuration example in a system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram showing an example of operation states stored in a server-plan storing unit of a power management server; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an example of power plans stored in a machine-plan allocating unit of the power management server; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a comparative example of operation states stored in an operation-state grasping unit of the power management server; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram showing an example of machine addresses of office machines stored in a machine-address managing unit of the power management server; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing a correspondence relation example between office machines and model names of the office machines stored in a machine-model storing unit of the power management server; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram showing a relation between operation states and power consumptions in the operation states stored in a model-power-consumption storing unit of the power management server; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram showing a configuration example of an MFP in the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram showing a relation between transition times and operation states stored in a machine-plan storing unit of the MFP; 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram showing a comparative example of between operation states on a machine side and a server side stored in an operation-state grasping unit of the MFP; 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram showing a relation of a machine address of a power management server office machine stored in a power-management-server-address managing unit of the MFP; 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram showing a correspondence relation between operation states and power consumptions stored in a machine-power-consumption storing unit of the MFP; 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram showing a flowchart example for explaining the operation of the office machine performed when the MFP functioning as the office machine compares operation states of power plans; 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram showing a flowchart example for explaining the operation of the power management server performed when the MFP compares operation states of power plans; and 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram showing a flowchart example for explaining the operation of the power management server performed when the server compares operation states of power plans. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It is an object of embodiments to provide a power management method, a power management server, and an office machine for managing electric power that can always save electric power in a system including a server and an office machine. 
     In general, according to one embodiment, there is provided a power management method for connecting a server to office machines to control electric power of the office machines, the office machines respectively storing machine side power plans, which are operation states with respect to transition times, and the server storing server side power plans of the office machines and subjecting electric powers of the office machines to management control, the power management method including: comparing the server side power plan stored in the server and the machine side power plan stored in the office machines; comparing, when an operation state based on the server side power plan and an operation state based on the machine side power plan are different, power consumptions in the operation state based on the server side power plan and an operation state based on the machine side power plan; and changing an operation state of the office machine to be an operation state with small power consumption. The server that subjects the electric powers of the office machines to the management control is connected to one or a plurality of office machines that respectively store the machine side power plans, which are operation states with respect to transition times, to control the electric power of the office machine. The server side power plan stored in the server and the machine side power plan stored in the office machine are compared. If operation states based on both the plans are different, an operation state of the office machine is changed to be an operation state with small power consumption corresponding to the operation states. 
     Embodiments are explained below with reference to the drawings. 
     An overall diagram of a power management system in an embodiment is shown in  FIG. 1 . This power management system  10  includes a plurality of office machines connected to a network  11  and a power management server  12  configured to control electric powers of the office machines according to a power schedule. The office machines are multi-functional peripherals (MFPs) and personal computers (PCs). The network  11  may be an intranet or connection via the Internet. 
     In an example in this embodiment, two MFPs  13   a  and  13   b  and two PCs  14   a  and  14   b  are connected to the network  11  and can perform communication with each other. The number of office machines may be more or less than that number. Besides, the office machines may be POS (Point Of Sales) machines. The power management server  12  includes a power schedule and has a function of managing the power schedules of the office machines. However, the power management server  12  may also have other server functions. 
     A configuration example of the power management server  12  in this embodiment is shown in  FIG. 2 . The power management server  12  includes a network interface (IF)  21  configured to perform transmission and reception of data to and from the outside via a network, a storage device  22  configured to store various data, and a processor (a CPU)  23  configured to control the power management server  12 , the network IF  21 , and the storage device  22 . The processor  23  performs communication with the office machines via the network IF  21 . 
     The storage device  22  includes a power plan (schedule) management program  31  executed by the CPU  23 , a server-plan storing unit  33  having stored therein an operation state from transition time for each of schedules, a machine-plan allocating unit  34  configured to store schedules allocated to the office machines, an operation-state grasping unit  35  configured to grasp operation states based on the schedules of the office machines and operation states based on schedules for the office machine in a server, a machine-address managing unit  36  configured to store addresses of the office machines, a machine-model storing unit  37  configured to store a correspondence relation between the office machines and model names of the machines, and a model-power-consumption storing unit  38  configured to store operation states in models and power consumptions in the operation states. 
     The office machines are specified by machine IDs. The schedules are specified by plan IDs. In this example, the machine IDs are set the same as signs of the office machines. For example, a machine ID of an MFP  13   a  is  13   a . The same applies to the other office machines. 
     An example of operation states with respect to transition times in a specific plan ID stored in the server-plan storing unit  33  is shown in  FIG. 3 . In this example, the plan ID is SC 1  and this schedule changes to a power saving mode at 8:30, changes to a sleep state at 12:00, and changes to the power saving mode again at 13:00. Subsequently, the schedule changes to power-off at 17:00 and changes to the sleep state at 17:30 in SC 1 . This is the schedule, the plan ID of which is SC 1 . There are other plan IDs as well. 
     An example of a relation between machine IDs of the office machines stored in the machine-plan allocating unit  34  and plan IDs allocated to the machines is shown in  FIG. 4 . A schedule, the plan ID of which is SC 1 , is allocated to the MFP  13   a , the machine ID of which is  13   a . A schedule, the plan ID of which is SC 1 , is allocated to an MFP  13   b , the machine ID of which is  13   b.    
     A schedule, the plan ID of which is SC 2 , is allocated to an MFP  13   c , the machine ID of which is  13   c . A schedule, the plan ID of which is SC 3 , is allocated to a PC  14   a , the machine ID of which is  14   a . A schedule, the plan ID of which is SC 4 , is allocated to a PC  14   b , the machine ID of which is  14   b.    
     An example of operation states based on machine side schedules of the office machines and operation states based on server side schedules stored in the operation-state grasping unit  35  is shown in  FIG. 5 . For the machine IDs  13   a ,  13   c , and  14   a , the operation states of the schedules on the machine side and the server side coincide with each other. However, the operation states of the schedules for the machine IDs  13   b  and  14   b  are different between the machine side and the server side. 
     An example of a correspondence relation between the office machines and addresses of the machines stored in the machine-address managing unit  36  is shown in  FIG. 6 . Machine IDs are the machine IDs (having the same signs) of the MFPs  13   a ,  13   b , and  13   c  and the PCs  14   a  and  14   b  shown in  FIG. 1 . Machine addresses such as IP addresses are stored with respect to the machine IDs. 
     An example of a correspondence relation between the office machines and models of the machines stored in the machine-model storing unit  37  is shown in  FIG. 7 . This example indicates that the MFPs  13   a  and  13   c  are a model  1 , the MFP  13   b  is a model  2 , the PC  14   a  is a model  3 , and the PC  14   b  is a model  4 . 
     An example of operation states in the models and power consumptions in the operation states stored in the model-power-consumption storing unit  38  is shown in  FIG. 8 . This example indicates that, in the case of the model  1 , when the operation state is a power saving mode, the power consumption is 100 W, when the operation state is a sleep mode, the power consumption is 50 W, and, when the operation state is power-off, the power consumption is zero. 
     A configuration example of an office machine is shown in  FIG. 9 . In this example, the MFP  13   a  is explained as an example. The MFP  13   a  includes a network interface (IF)  91  configured to perform transmission and reception of data to and from the outside via a network, a storage device  92  configured to store various data, and a processor (CPU)  93  configured to control the network IF  91  and the storage device  92 . The processor  93  controls and performs communication of the MFP  13   a  with the server  12  via the network IF  91 . 
     The storage device  92  includes a machine-plan storing unit  103  having stored therein operation states from transition times, an operation-state grasping unit  105  configured to grasp an operation state based on a schedule on the office machine side and an operation state based on a schedule for the office machine on the server side, a power-management-server-address managing unit  106  configured to store an address of a power management server office machine, and a machine-power-consumption storing unit  108  configured to store operation states in the office machines and power consumptions in the operation states. 
     An example of the operation states from the transition times stored in the machine-plan storing unit  103  is shown in  FIG. 10 . In this example, the office machine (the MFP  13   a ), the machine ID of which is  13   a , enters the power saving mode at 8:30 and enters the sleep mode at 12:00. Thereafter, the office machine changes to the power saving mode at 13:00 and changes to the power-off state at 17:00. 
     An example of the operation state based on the schedule on the office machine side and the operation state based on the schedule for the office machine on the server side stored in the operation-state grasping unit  105  is shown in  FIG. 11 . In this example, when the MFP  13   a  is in the power saving mode in the schedule on the machine side, the MFP  13   a  is in the sleep mode in the schedule on the server side. 
     An example of an IP address of a power management server (in this case, the power management server  12 ) stored in the power-management-server-address managing unit  106  is shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     An example of an operation state in the office machine  13   a  and power consumption in the operation state stored in the machine-power-consumption storing unit  108  is shown in  FIG. 13 . In this example, power consumption in the power saving mode is 100 W and power consumption in the sleep mode is 50 W. When the operation state changes to the power-off, the power consumption decreases to zero. 
     When not only the power management server but also the office machines include the power plans in this way, there is an advantage that it is possible to perform, for example, finely specified limitations of electric power corresponding to a district, for example, in a lunch break only in a specific district. 
     First Embodiment 
     The operation of a first embodiment of the configuration explained above is explained on the basis of a flowchart on the machine side shown in  FIG. 14  and a flowchart on the server side shown in  FIG. 15 . This example is an example of a form in which a comparison of power consumptions of the power management server and the office machine is performed on the office machine side. The operation in the office machine, for example, the MFP  13   a  is shown. 
     First, as shown in  FIG. 15 , in A 111 , the processor  23  of the power management server  12  transmits a plan check command signal to the MFP  13   a , which is the office machine, via the network IF  21 . 
     In A 101  shown in  FIG. 14 , the processor  93  of the MFP  13   a  recognizes whether the plan check command signal transmitted from the power management server  12  is received. The processor  93  performs this operation by recognizing the signal input via the network IF  91 . 
     When it is recognized in A 101  that the plan check command signal is received, in the next A 102 , the processor  93  checks an operation state on the office machine side and an operation state on the server side at the point of time. The operation state of the MFP  13   a  is obtained from the machine-plan storing unit  103 . 
     The operation state of the power management server  12  is obtained by the processor  93  transmitting an operation state inquiry signal in a server side plan from the MFP  13   a  to the power management server  12 . In A 112 , the processor  23  of the power management server  12  detects whether the operation state inquiry signal is received from the MFP  13   a.    
     If the operation state inquiry signal is received (Y in A 112 ), the processor  23  accesses the server-plan storing unit  33  of the storage device  22  and detects an operation state of the server side plan of the MFP  13   a  (A 113 ). The processor  23  transmits the operation state in the server side plan to the MFP  13   a  (A 114 ). 
     A result of the detection of the operation state is represented, for example, as shown in  FIG. 11 . In an example shown in  FIG. 11 , the operation state is the power saving mode in the machine side plan and is the sleep mode in the server side plan. Therefore, the operation states are different. 
     In A 102 , the processor  93  of the MFP  13   a  recognizes that the operation state on the office machine side and the operation state on the server side are different. Then, in A 103 , the processor  93  examines power consumptions in the respective different operation states. 
     The processor  93  performs the examination of the power consumption by checking contents of the machine-power-consumption storing unit  108  and the machine-model storing unit  37  and the model-power-consumption storing unit  38  of the power management server  12 . Actually, the processor  93  requests, via the network IF  91 , the power management server  12  to check a value of power consumption in the sleep mode. In response to the request, the processor  23  of the power management server  12  checks a model of the requesting office machine from the machine-model storing unit  37  and further checks, from the model-power-consumption storing unit  38 , a value of power consumption in the case of the sleep mode in the model. In the present case, it is discriminated that the MFP  13   a  is the model  1  according to  FIG. 7  and the power consumption in the sleep mode in the case of the model  1  is 50 W according to  FIG. 8 . 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 11 , a state of the MFP  13   a  is the power saving mode in the machine side plan. The processor  93  examines the machine-power-consumption storing unit  108  and discriminates that, as shown in  FIG. 13 , a value of the power consumption is 100 W in the power saving mode. In A 104 , the processor  93  recognizes and compares the values of the power consumptions in the power saving mode and the sleep mode. 
     In the next A 105 , as a result of comparing the power consumptions in the resent operation state of the server side plan and the machine side plan, the processor  93  recognizes that the former is smaller. 
     Therefore, in A 106 , in the office machine, i.e., in the present case, the MFP  13   a , the processor  93  issues a plan change command for a change to the sleep mode to thereby change the operation state of the office machine from the power saving mode to the sleep mode. 
     In the next A 107 , the processor  93  transmits a plan check completion signal to the power management server  12  and ends the processing. 
     If the operation states in the machine side plan and the server side plan are not different, i.e., are the same in A 102  (N in A 102 ), it is unnecessary to change the operation states. Therefore, the processor  93  shifts to A 107 , transmits the plan check completion signal to the power management server  12 , and ends the processing. 
     If the power consumption in the operation state in the server side plan is equal to or larger than the power consumption in the operation state in the machine side plan in A 105  (N in A 105 ), it is unnecessary to change the operation state on the machine side. Therefore, the processor  93  also shifts to A 107 , transmits the plan check completion signal to the power management server  12 , and informs the power management server  12  that the response to the plan check command signal ends. The processor  23  of the power management server  12  receives this signal (A 115 ). 
     According to this embodiment, the present operation states in the office machine side plan and the server side plan are checked on the office machine side. Therefore, it is possible to perform power saving corresponding to states of the individual office machines. 
     Second Embodiment 
     An embodiment in which the power management server  12  checks whether operation states are different is explained on the basis of a flowchart shown in  FIG. 16 . 
     This example is an example of a form in which a comparison of power consumptions of a power management server and an office machine is performed on a server side. The office machine is, for example, the MFP  13   a.    
     First, in A 201 , the processor  23  of the power management server  12  checks a plan on the server side stored in the server-plan storing unit  33  of the storage device  22 . Upon detecting that transition time comes, the processor  23  shifts to A 202 . The processor  23  obtains an operation state in the server side plan of the power management server  12  from the server-plan storing unit  33  of the storage device  22  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     On the other hand, an operation state of a machine side plan in the MFP  13   a  is obtained from the machine-plan storing unit  103 . Therefore, the processor  23  of the power management server  12  transmits an operation state inquiry signal in the machine side plan to the MFP  13   a  via the network IF  21 . In the MFP  13   a , the processor  93  grasps the present operation state from the operation-state grasping unit  105  and returns the operation state to the power management server  12  as an operation state response signal. 
     A result of the grasp of the operation state is represented, for example, as shown in  FIG. 11 . In an example shown in  FIG. 11 , the operation state is the power saving mode in the machine side plan and is the sleep mode in the server side plan. Therefore, the operation states are different. 
     In A 203 , the processor  23  of the power management server  12  recognizes that the operation state on the office machine side and the operation state on the server side are different. Then, in A 204 , the processor  23  examines power consumptions in the respective different operation states. 
     The processor  23  of the power management server  12  accesses the machine-model storing unit  37  of the storage device  22  and detects that the MFP  13   a  is the model  1  (see  FIG. 7 ). Further, the processor  23  accesses the model-power-consumption storing unit  38  and detects that the power consumption is 50 W in the sleep mode of the model  1  (see  FIG. 8 ). 
     On the other hand, the processor  23  transmits a power consumption inquiry signal in the power saving mode to the MFP  13   a  via the network IF  21 . Upon receiving this signal, the processor  93  of the MFP  13   a  accesses the machine-power-consumption storing unit  108  and detects power consumption in the power saving mode. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , the power consumption in the power saving mode is 100 W. Therefore, the processor  93  of the MFP  13   a  transmits a response signal indicating that the power consumption is 100 W to the power management server  12  via the network IF  91 . 
     In A 205 , the processor  23  compares the power consumptions obtained in this way. In this example, the power consumption in the sleep mode based on the server side plan is smaller than the power consumption in the power saving mode based on the machine side plan (Y in A 206 ). Therefore, in A 207 , the processor  23  changes the operation state of the office machine from the power saving mode to the sleep mode. 
     Specifically, the processor  23  of the power management server  12  transmits an operation state change command signal to the MFP  13   a . In the next A 208 , the processor  23  of the power management server  12  transmits a plan check completion signal to the MFP  13   a.    
     If the power consumption in the operation state in the server side plan is equal to or larger than the power consumption in the operation state in the machine side plan in A 206  (N in A 206 ), it is unnecessary to change the operation state on the machine side. Therefore, in this case, the processor  23  of the power management server  12  also shifts to the A 208 , transmits the plan check completion signal to the MFP  13   a , and informs the MFP  13   a  that the response to the plan check command ends. 
     In this embodiment, the power management server compares the power plan on the server side and the power plan on the office machine side and shifts the office machine to a mode with small power consumption. Therefore, it is possible to take a general view of the entire office machines and comprehensively save power. 
     In the example explained in the embodiment, a power management plan of the MFP functioning as the office machine is checked and compared. However, the same applies when a power management plan is checked concerning a PC. 
     In the embodiment, a schedule change from the server is explained. However, for example, a schedule change from a target machine may be performed. 
     The office machine in the embodiment is not limited to the MFP and the PC and can be applied to any machine included in the category of office machines such as a POS terminal. 
     In the example explained in the embodiment, a server side power plan stored in the power management server and a machine side power plan stored in the office machine are compared and, if an operation state based on the server side power plan and an operation state based on the machine side power plan are different, power consumptions of the operation state based on the server side power plan and the operation state based on the machine side power plan are compared and the operation state of the office machine is changed to an operation state with small power consumption. However, the operation state of the office machine may be directly changed to an operation state with smaller power consumption not via the two stages, i.e., the two operation states. 
     According to the embodiments, it is possible to obtain a power management method, a power management server, and an office machine for managing electric power that can always save electric power in a system including a server and an office machine. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.