Patent Publication Number: US-9894229-B2

Title: Image forming apparatus to reduce power consumption, control method for the same and recording medium

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 14/712,232 filed on May 14, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image forming apparatus which seeks to reduce power consumption, a control method for the image forming apparatus and a recording medium. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a digital multi-function peripheral called as a MFP (multi-function peripheral), a scanner section and a printer section are arranged. A document is read and the read image data is processed by the scanner section, and then the processed image data is printed by the printer section. 
     Further, in recent years, there is a MFP which is provided with not only a copy function, a print function and a scanner function, but also a FAX (facsimile) function using the public line. In addition, there is also a MFP linked with an external personal computer and the like by connecting the MFP with a network. 
     In such a MFP, various measures have been taken to reduce power consumption. In the past, for example, if an authentication is carried out to authenticate a user through an IC card, the image forming apparatus is restored from the power saving mode to the general mode. 
     Further, there is also an example in which authority for using the MFP is given to a specific user. If it is authenticated by the MFP that a user is the user who has the authority, the electric power is fed to each block of the MFP, in this way, it is possible to use the MFP. 
     However, in the past, though the user who has the authority can use the MFP, the electric power is also fed to the unused blocks. Thus, there is a disadvantage that extra power is consumed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the constitutions of an image forming apparatus and a management server according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustration diagram illustrating an example of a list of use frequency information for each user according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration diagram illustrating another example of a list of use frequency information for each user according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating operations for power saving according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating other operations for power saving according to the embodiment; and 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating another operations for power saving according to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with an embodiment, an image forming apparatus comprises: 
     a plurality of blocks configured to be capable of executing a plurality of jobs; 
     a power supply control section configured to control the feeding of electric power to the plurality of blocks, and operate the plurality of blocks in a power saving mode or a standby mode; 
     an authentication section configured to authenticate a user who may use the image forming apparatus; 
     a storage section configured to store use frequency information of each of the plurality of jobs generated based on the information when the user executes the jobs; and 
     a control section configured to acquire the use frequency information of the user authenticated by the authentication section from the storage section; and control to feed, when there is a job of which the acquired use frequency is higher than a given frequency, electric power to only the blocks that are required to execute the job. 
     Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to the embodiment is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Further, the same components are applied with the same reference numerals in the drawings, and the description thereof is not provided. 
     A First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the constitutions of an image forming apparatus and a management server according to the first embodiment. In  FIG. 1 , a plurality of image forming apparatuses  101 ,  102  . . .  10   n  and a management server  200  are connected with each other through a network  400  such as a LAN and the like. The image forming apparatuses  101 ,  102  . . .  10   n  are, for example, the digital multi-function peripherals called as the MFPs (Multi-Function Peripherals). 
     The image forming apparatuses  101 ,  102  . . .  10   n  are referred to as MFPs below, and each of them is respectively indicated as MFP- 1 , MFP- 2  . . . MFP-n. Since the MFPs  101 ,  102  . . .  10   n  have the same function, the MFP  101  is exemplified as an example. 
     There is a document table at the upper portion of a main body  11  of the MFP  101 . An automatic document feeder (ADF)  12  is arranged at the document table in an openable manner. An operation panel  13  which includes various operation keys  14  and a touch panel type display section  15  is arranged at the upper portion of the main body  11 . 
     A scanner section  16  serving as an image reading section is arranged below the ADF  12  in the main body  11 . The scanner section  16  reads the document sent by the ADF  12 . The scanner section  16  further reads the document placed on the document table to generate image data. A printer section  17  serving as an image output section is arranged at the center in the main body  11 . In addition, a plurality of cassettes  18  which houses paper having various sizes is arranged at a further lower portion of the main body  11 . 
     The printer section  17  includes, for example, a photoconductive drum, a laser and the like. The printer section  17  processes the image data read by the scanner section  16 , or the image data created by a PC (Personal Computer) and the like to transfer a toner image to a paper. The printer section  17  further includes a fixing device. The paper to which the toner image is transferred is to be conveyed to the fixing device which is, for example, provided with a heat roller and a press roller opposite to each other. When the paper passes through between the heat roller and the press roller, the toner image transferred to the paper is fixed on the paper. The paper on which the image is fixed by the printer section  17  is discharged to a paper discharge section  19 . 
     The management server  200  is connected with each of the MFPs  101 ,  102  . . .  10   n  via the network  400 . 
     Hereinafter, the constitution of control systems of the MFPs  101 ,  102  . . .  10   n  is described. Since the MFPs  101 ,  102 ,  103  . . .  10   n  have identical constitution, the MFP  101  is exemplified as an example. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the control system of the MFP  101 . The MFP  101  is equipped with a main control section  20  which includes a CPU  21 , a ROM (Read Only Memory)  22 , and a RAM (Random Access Memory)  23 . The CPU  21  is connected to a PCI bus (Peripheral Component Interconnect Bus)  50 . The CPU  21  further includes a timer  211 . 
     The ROM  22  and the RAM  23  are connected to the PCI bus  50 . Various control program data required for the operations of the MFP  101  is stored in the ROM  22 . The RAM  23  stores the control information when each section operates. 
     Further, the operation panel  13  which includes the operation keys  14  and the display section  15  is connected to the PCI bus  50 . The operation keys  14  include various keys for setting operation conditions. The various keys are, for example, a start key, numeric keys, a print key, a copy key, a scan key, a set/registration key and the like. Further, the display section  15  is, for example, a touch panel type display constituted by liquid crystal material. After the MFP  101  operates, various kinds of information is displayed on the display section  15 . 
     The operation keys  14  and the display section  15  accept operations of a user. The operation panel  13  inputs various instructions of the user by accepting operations of the user. 
     Further, a network interface (I/F)  24  is arranged in the MFP  101 . The network I/F  24  is connected to the PCI bus  50  via a network controller  25 . The network I/F  24  is capable of connecting with external devices such as the management server  200 , and a PC (Personal computer)  300  through the network  400 . The network controller  25  controls the data transmission/reception with the external devices via the network I/F  24 . 
     Further, an authentication section  26  is connected to the PCI bus  50 . A card reader  27  which reads the information of an IC card  28  is connected with the authentication section  26 . The information of the IC card  28  held by the user is read by the card reader  27 , and then sent to the authentication section  26 . The authentication section  26  authenticates the holder (user) of the IC card to determine whether or not it is the user who may use the MFP  101 . Further, the authentication section  26  acquires the user information stored in the IC card. 
     Further, a storage section  29  such as a HDD and the like is connected to the PCI bus  50 . The image data generated when a printing processing is carried out by the printer section  17  is stored in the storage section  29 . The image data is stored in the storage section  29  and read from the storage section  29  under the control of the CPU  21 . 
     Further, a power supply control section  30  is connected to the PCI bus  50 . The power supply control section  30  carries out, for each block of the MFP  101 , the supply (feeding) and the stopping of the power supply voltage. The power supply control section  30  controls the main control section  20 , the scanner section  16 , the printer section  17  and the operation panel  13  to be in an energized state, and sets the MFP  101  to the power saving mode such as a ready state, a sleep state and the like. 
     Further, a copy control section  31 , a scanner control section  32 , a printer control section  33  and a FAX control section  34  are connected to the PCI bus  50 . The copy control section  31  controls a function of copying the image data read by the scanner section  16  using the printer section  17 . The scanner control section  32  controls a scan function of reading documents using the scanner section  16 , and a file function of storing the scanned image data in the PC  300 . 
     The printer control section  33  controls a print function using the printer section  17  or a network print function. The network print function refers to a function of printing the image data sent from the external device such as the PC  300  and the like. The FAX control section  34  is connected to an interface  35  for transmitting and receiving data via a line (not shown). 
     The MFP  101  of the embodiment comprises an authentication device including the card reader  27  and the authentication section  26  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The MFP  101  may be operated in a standby mode in which jobs can be executed and a power saving mode in which power consumption is reduced. 
     The standby mode is a mode in which the MFP  101  can operate immediately when the operation panel  13  is operated. The power saving mode is a mode in which the electric power is fed to only necessary blocks and the power consumption can be reduced. If the operation panel  13  is operated in the power saving mode, the MFP  101  is restored from the power saving mode to the standby mode. 
     If the MFP  101  is restored from the power saving mode to the standby mode, the electric power is fed to all blocks of the MFP  101 . In the present embodiment, the electric power is respectively fed to the main control section  20 , the reading section (scanner section  16 ), and the output section (printer section  17 ), if needed. 
     Further, the user information is stored in the RAM  23  serving as a storage section. In addition to the user IDs for authentication, the user information also includes use frequency information indicating that each user utilizes which job function. That is, the use frequency information indicates that how often the user utilizes any of the printer function, the copy function and the scan function. Further, the IC card  28  includes a memory  281  in which the user ID of the user who holds the IC card  28  is stored. In addition, the use frequency information of the user may be stored in the memory  281 . 
     The list in  FIG. 3  illustrates an example of the user information stored in the RAM  23 . The user information includes the use frequency information for each job of each user. For example, when the user executes each job of “copy”, “print” and “scan”, the execution times are stored in the RAM  23  or the memory  281  of the IC card  28 . The CPU  21  calculates the use frequency of each job according to the cumulative value of times of each job. The calculated use frequency information is stored in the RAM  23  or the memory  281 . The use frequency information for each job can be, for example, represented as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the use frequency (%) of each job of copy, print and scan of each user (A˜E) is illustrated. For example, as for the user A, the use frequency of print and scan is respectively 10% while the use frequency of copy is 80%. Further, as for the user B, the use frequency of copy is 10%, and the use frequency of print is 80%. As a result, the use frequency of scan is 10%. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , by storing the use frequency information of each user, it can be aware that: as for the user A, the use frequency of copy is high; as for the user B, the use frequency of print is high; and as for the user C, the use frequency of scan is high, for example. Further, it can be aware that each function of copy, print and scan is averagely utilized by the user D and user E. 
     Further, another example of the user information is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 4 , in addition to storing the execution times for each job, other parameters such as temporal information when the user utilizes the MFP  101  are added. Further, the temporal information means the information relating to the time such as hour and minute, date and time, day of week, month and year, and the like. 
     In  FIG. 4 , an example of the user information in which the time band during which the user utilizes the MFP  101  serving as the temporal information is, for example, classified into AM and PM is illustrated. 
     In the list in  FIG. 4 , information of the use frequency (%) of each job of copy, print and scan of each user (A˜E) which is classified into the information in AM and the information in PM is contained. For example, as for the user A, the use frequency of copy is reduced to 20% in PM while the use frequency of copy is 80% in AM. Further, the use frequency of print and scan is not greater than 40% both in AM and PM. 
     Further, as for the user B, the use frequency of print is reduced to 40% in AM while the use frequency of print is 80% in PM. Further, the use frequency of copy and scan is not greater than 40% both in AM and PM. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , by storing the use frequency of each user in different time bands, it can be aware that as for the user A, the use frequency of copy in AM is high; as for the user B, the use frequency of print in PM is high; and as for the user C, the use frequency of scan in AM is high, for example. 
     Further, the reason why the use frequency for each user is different is that the departments the users belong to are different. For example, the user of the design department often prints documents, while the user of the management department often copies documents, in this way, the use frequency is varied. Further, in addition to the date and time, the use frequency may be calculated and stored in different day of week, month and the like as the parameters of the temporal information. Further, a statutory holiday, a season, an anniversary and the like may be used as the temporal information. 
     Further, the example in which the use frequency for each user is calculated by the CPU  21 , and then is stored in the RAM  23  is described above. However, the execution times of jobs of each user may be sent to the management server  200 . The management server  200  receives information from the MFP  101 . The management server  200  further calculates the use frequency of each job of each user and stores the calculated use frequency in the storage section  201 . 
     In a case in which the use frequency information of each user is stored in the management server  200 , the MFP  101  inquires of the management server  200  about presence/absence of the user information during the user authentication process. If there is information of the user according to the inquired result, the MFP  101  may read the frequency information of the authenticated user from the storage section  201  and utilize it. 
     The management server  200  can stores or calculates not only the use frequency information in the MFP  101 , but also the use frequency information in other MFPs (MFP  102 , MFP  103  and the like). 
     In the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment, the use frequency information of each job of the user is acquired during the user authentication process. Then, the blocks that are restored from the power saving mode to the standby mode are determined and the electric power is fed to these blocks. For example, if a user is one for whom the use frequency of scan is high and the use frequency of copy and print is low, it is controlled that the electric power is fed to only the scanner section  16  but not fed to the printer section  17 . It is possible to reduce the power consumption by feeding electric power to only the necessary blocks. 
     That is, the image forming apparatus is in the power saving mode when the IC card is authenticated in the past, while it is in the standby mode if the authentication is carried out in the present embodiment. However, even if the job to be executed by the user is only scan, the printer section is also restored to the standby mode and the power is consumed. 
       FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  are flowcharts illustrating the operations for power saving in the present embodiment. The operations in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  are carried out according to the programs stored in the ROM  22  under the control of the CPU  21 . 
     That is, in the present embodiment, the list of use frequency information of the user is acquired, and the use frequency for each job of the user is determined. Further, if it is a job of which the use frequency is not less than a set value (for example, 80%), it is predicted that the job is a job having a high possibility that the user will execute it. Then, as the predicted result, the electric power is fed to only the blocks that are required to execute the job. Hereinafter, the detailed description is provided. 
     In  FIG. 5 , the authentication section  26  carries out the authentication of the user based on the information of the IC card  28  read by the card reader  27  in ACT  1 . The CPU  21  determines whether or not the user authentication is correctly carried out in ACT  2 . In a case in which the user authentication cannot be carried out, the CPU  21  displays a message (authentication NG) indicating that the authentication cannot be carried out on the display section  15  in ACT  3 , and then returns to ACT  1 . 
     If the user authentication can be carried out in ACT  2  (YES in ACT  2 ), the CPU  21  enters the processing in ACT  4 . In ACT  4 , it is determined that whether or not the current mode of the MFP  101  is the power saving mode. If the current mode is the power saving mode (YES in ACT  4 ), ACT  5  is taken. In ACT  5 , the CPU  21  controls the power supply control section  30  to feed electric power to the main control section  20  such that the main control section  20  is restored from the power saving mode to the standby mode. 
     Further, if the determination in ACT  4  is NO, it is determined that the current mode is the standby mode, and the processing proceeds to a job selection in ACT  15  in  FIG. 6 . The operations in  FIG. 6  are described later. 
     After the CPU  21  enables the main control section  20  to restore to the standby mode in ACT  5 , the CPU  21  determines whether or not a print job is received in ACT  6 . In ACT  6 , it is determined that whether or not the print job is received from the PC  300  through the network  400 , and whether or not there is a FAX reception via the interface  35 . In a case of receiving the print job in ACT  6 , the CPU  21  controls the power supply control section  30  to feed electric power to the printer section  17  in ACT  7 . The printer section  17  is restored from the power saving mode to the standby mode. Thus, in a case in which there is the print job from the PC  300  or the FAX reception, the print job is carried out by the printer section  17 . 
     On the other hand, in a case of receiving no print job in ACT  6  (NO in ACT  6 ), ACT  8  is taken. In ACT  8 , the CPU  21  determines whether the current time band is AM or PM based on the information of the timer  211 . Herein, in a case in which the use frequency information in  FIG. 3  is used, ACT  8  is omitted and the processing proceeds to ACT  9 . ACT  8  is taken to carry out the determination in a case of using the use frequency information which is classified into the information in AM and the information in PM ( FIG. 4 ). 
     In a case of using the use frequency information in  FIG. 3 , the CPU  21  reads the use frequency information of each job of the authenticated user from the RAM  23  in ACT  9 , and then ACT  10  is taken. 
     Further, in a case of using the use frequency information in  FIG. 4 , the CPU  21  reads the use frequency information of the authenticated user from the RAM  23  in ACT  9 . Herein, in ACT  9 , the CPU  21  reads the use frequency information in AM if the current time is in AM, and reads the use frequency information in PM if the current time is in PM. 
     Then, the CPU  21  determines whether or not the use frequency of “copy” is not less than a pre-determined frequency (for example, not less than 80%) in ACT  10 . If the determination in ACT  10  is YES, ACT  11  is taken. In ACT  11 , the CPU  21  controls the power supply control section  30  to feed electric power to the printer section  17  and the scanner section  16 . The printer section  17  and the scanner section  16  are restored from the power saving mode to the standby mode to be a state capable of executing copy jobs. 
     If the determination in ACT  10  is NO, ACT  12  is taken. In ACT  12 , the CPU  21  determines whether or not the use frequency of “print” is not less than a pre-determined frequency (for example, not less than 80%). If the determination in ACT  12  is YES, ACT  13  is taken. In ACT  13 , the CPU  21  controls the power supply control section  30  to feed electric power to the printer section  17 . The printer section  17  is restored from the power saving mode to the standby mode to be a state capable of executing print jobs. 
     On the other hand, if the determination in ACT  12  is NO, ACT  14  is taken. In ACT  14 , the CPU  21  controls the power supply control section  30  to feed electric power to the scanner section  16 . The scanner section  16  is restored from the power saving mode to the standby mode to be a state capable of executing scan jobs. That is, if the determination in both ACT  10  and ACT  12  is NO, the CPU  21  determines that the use frequency of “scan” is high, and then ACT  14  is taken. 
     According to the use frequency information in  FIG. 3 , as for the user A, the use frequency of “copy” is not less than 80%. Thus, when the user A uses the MFP  101 , the electric power is fed to the printer section  17  and the scanner section  16  to execute a copy job according to the determination result (YES) in ACT  10 . 
     Further, as for the user B, the use frequency of “print” is not less than 80%. Thus, when the user B uses the MFP  101 , the electric power is fed to the printer section  17  to execute a print job according to the determination result (YES) in ACT  12 . At this time, the scanner section  16  is in the power saving mode, thus reducing the power consumption. 
     As for the user C, the use frequency of “scan” is not less than 80%. Thus, when the user C uses the MFP  101 , the electric power is fed to the scanner section  16  to execute a scan job according to the determination result (NO) in ACT  12 . At this time, the printer section  17  is in the power saving mode, thus reducing the power consumption. 
     The processing proceeds to ACT  15  in  FIG. 6  after the processing in ACT  7 , ACT  11 , ACT  13  and ACT  14  is carried out. In ACT  15  in  FIG. 6 , a job is selected by the user. In ACT  16 , the CPU  21  determines whether or not the blocks that are required to execute the job selected by the user are restored to the standby mode. 
     In a case where the determination in ACT  16  is NO, in ACT  17 , the CPU  21  controls the power supply control section  30  to feed electric power to the blocks that are required to execute the job such that the necessary blocks are restored to the standby mode. For example, when the determination in all of ACT  6 , ACT  10  and ACT  12  is NO, the scanner section  16  is restored to the standby mode in ACT  14 . However, when the user selects a print job or a copy job in ACT  15 , it is needed to restore the printer section  17 . As a result, the printer section  17  is restored to the standby mode in ACT  17 . 
     In ACT  18 , the CPU  21  executes the job selected by the user. If the execution of the job is completed in ACT  19 , the CPU  21  stores the use information (copy, print and scan information) of the user in the RAM  23  in ACT  20 . Or, the use information of the user is sent to the management server  200 . The CPU  21  calculates the use frequency based on the use information newly stored in the RAM  23 , updates the use frequency for each user and stores it in the RAM  23 . The updated use frequency information may be stored in the memory  281  of the IC card  28 . Or, the management server  200  re-calculates the use frequency based on the received use information. Then, the use frequency information for each user is updated and stored in the storage section  201 . 
     Further, assuming that the department the user belongs to is changed, the use frequency information is reset every a pre-determined period such as one year, half a year and the like, and the use frequency information may be newly calculated. 
     According to the embodiment described above, when the user executes a job, the job to be used by the user can be predicted in advance and the electric power can be fed to the blocks that are required to execute the job based on the use frequency information of the user. Further, it is possible to realize the reduction in power consumption by stopping the feeding of electric power to the blocks that are not required to execute the job. 
     Further, in the flowchart in  FIG. 5 , in a case where there is no job of which the use frequency is not less than a set value (for example, not less than 80%), the electric power is not fed to the scanner section  16  and the printer section  17  until the user selects a job in ACT  15 . In this way, there is an effect if the reduction of power consumption is prioritized. On the contrary, it takes much time to become the state capable of executing jobs. Therefore, in a case where there is no job of which the use frequency is not less than a set value (for example, not less than 80%) in the list for each user, the electric power may be fed to the scanner section  16  and the printer section  17  immediately in such a manner that the scanner section  16  and the printer section  17  are moved to a state capable of executing jobs. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating another operations for power saving. In the flowchart in  FIG. 7 , the processing from ACT  1  to ACT  14  is the same as that in  FIG. 5 . Therefore, the detailed description is not provided. Act  21  is a newly added determination processing. 
     In  FIG. 7 , when the use frequency of “print” is below 80% in ACT  12 , ACT  21  is taken. In ACT  21 , the CPU  21  determines whether or not the use frequency of “scan” is not less than a pre-determined frequency (for example, not less than 80%). If the determination in ACT  21  is YES, ACT  14  is taken. In ACT  14 , the CPU  21  controls the power supply control section  30  to feed electric power to the scanner section  16 . The scanner section  16  is restored from the power saving mode to the standby mode to be a state capable of executing scan jobs. 
     Further, if the determination in ACT  21  is NO, the processing proceeds to ACT  15  in  FIG. 6 . The processing after ACT  15  is as described above. Thus, the electric power is not fed to the scanner section  16  and the printer section  17  until the user selects a job in ACT  15 , which leads to the reduction in power consumption. 
     On the other hand, it takes much time if the necessary blocks are not restored until the operation in ACT  15  is performed. Therefore, if prioritizing the convenience, ACT  11  is taken as indicated by the dotted line in a case where the determination in ACT  21  is NO. In ACT  11 , the CPU  21  controls to feed electric power to the scanner section  16  and the printer section  17  to be a state capable of executing jobs. 
     A Second Embodiment 
     In the embodiment described above, the power saving when the user starts to use the MFP  101  is described. In the second embodiment, the power saving is obtained by stopping the feeding of electric power to the blocks that are not required to execute a job after the user uses the MFP. 
     A case in which the list in  FIG. 3  is used is described as an example. For example, it is assumed that the user A is copying a document in a state in which the electric power is being fed to the scanner section  16  and the printer section  17 . Herein, if the user A ends the copy process, the electric power is continuously fed to the scanner section  16  and the printer section  17  for a pre-determined period by a sleep timer and the like. 
     At this time, since the user B uses the MFP  101 , if the user authentication is carried out, the CPU  21  reads the use frequency information of the user B from the RAM  23 . As for the user B, since the use frequency of print is not less than 80%, the CPU  21  stops the feeding of electric power to the scanner section  16  and feeds electric power to only the printer section  17 . 
     Alternatively, a case in which the user C uses the MFP  101  in a state where the electric power is fed to the scanner section  16  and the printer section  17  is considered. In this case, if the user C is authenticated, the CPU  21  reads the use frequency information of the user C from the RAM  23 . As for the user C, since the use frequency of scan is not less than 80%, the CPU  21  stops the feeding of electric power to the printer section  17  and feeds electric power to only the scanner section  16 . 
     Thus, the job to be used by the user can be predicted in advance and the electric power can be fed to the blocks that are required to execute the job based on the use frequency information of the user. Further, it is possible to realize the reduction in power consumption by stopping the feeding of electric power to the blocks that are not required to execute the job. 
     In the embodiment described above, in the image forming apparatus comprising the authentication device, when the user executes a job, the job to be used by the user can be predicted in advance and the electric power can be fed to the blocks that are required to execute the job. Further, it is possible to realize the reduction in power consumption by stopping the feeding of electric power to the blocks that are not required to execute the job. 
     Further, in the above description, the determination standard of the use frequency is set to 80% in ACT  10  and ACT  12  in the flowchart in  FIG. 5 . However, it may also be set to a value other than 80%. The determination standard of the use frequency may be any value, and may be set by the administrator. 
     Further, in the examples described above, three jobs (copy, print and scan) are described. However, in a case where there is other job, it may be controlled to feed electric power to the blocks that execute the other job, if needed. 
     Further, a case is described in which the functions for implementing the program are pre-stored in the ROM  22  arranged in the image forming apparatus (MFP)  101  in the present embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and same functions may be downloaded to the image forming apparatus  101  from the network  400 . Further, same functions may be stored in a recording medium and then installed in the image forming apparatus  101 . No limitation is given to the form of the recording medium as long as the recording medium can store programs such as a CD-ROM and the like, and is readable by the image forming apparatus  101 . Further, the function achieved by an installed or downloaded program can also be realized through the cooperation with an OS (operating system) installed in the image forming apparatus  101 . 
     Further, the processing indicated by the embodiments may be realized by the hardware, or realized by the application (computer program) that is stored in a storage section such as a memory and executed by an arithmetic section such as the CPU  21  and the like. 
     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 invention. 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 invention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.