Image forming apparatus and power management method thereof

Abstract

A power management method of an image forming apparatus in a home network system including the image forming apparatus and a terminal device. The power management method includes setting power save mode information which includes a plurality of levels corresponding to a predetermined home network protocol to the image forming apparatus; storing the set power save mode information; receiving a command to enter a first power save mode among the plurality of levels from the terminal device; comparing the received command to enter the first power save mode with the stored power save mode information; and entering a power save mode by the image forming apparatus corresponding to the received command to enter the first power save mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A power management method of an image forming apparatus in a home network system comprising the image forming apparatus and a terminal device, the method comprising:
 setting power save mode information which comprises a plurality of levels corresponding to a predetermined home network protocol to the image forming apparatus;   storing the set power save mode information;   receiving a command to enter a first power save mode among the plurality of levels from the terminal device;   comparing the received command to enter the first power save mode with the stored power save mode information; and   entering a power save mode by the image forming apparatus corresponding to the received command to enter the first power save mode.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising identifying a current level of the power save mode upon a reception of at least one job request from the image forming apparatus; and
 converting the power save mode to a normal mode and performing the job.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one job comprises at least one of a printing for a print data stored in a storage unit of the image forming apparatus or received from a host device, copying of a document, a fax transmission, a fax reception from outside, a reception of print data from a host device, and scanning of a document. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein if the at least one job is completed, the image forming apparatus returns to the power save mode according to the level of the power save mode. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the returning to the power save mode comprises determining whether a standby time which is preset depending on the level of the power save mode elapses; and
 returning to the power save mode if the standby time elapses.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the entering the power save mode comprises selectively supplying power to the image forming apparatus depending on the level of the power save mode. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a command to turn off the power save mode from the terminal device, wherein
 the image forming apparatus is converted into the normal mode according to the command to turn off the power save mode.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a user interface (UI) input of the image forming apparatus, wherein
 the image forming apparatus is converted into a normal mode corresponding to the input.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of levels of the power save mode is classified according to at least one of an operation at a time of entering a power save mode, an operation at a time of requesting a job and an operation after a completion of the job. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined home network protocol comprises a universal plug and play (UPnP) protocol. 
     
     
         11 . An image forming apparatus in a home network system comprising the image forming apparatus and a terminal device, the image forming apparatus comprising:
 a power supply unit which supplies power to the image forming apparatus;   an operation panel which sets information on a power save mode having a plurality of levels corresponding to a predetermined home network protocol to the image forming apparatus;   a storage unit which stores therein the set information of the power save mode;   a communication unit which communicates with the terminal device according to the predetermined home network protocol and receives print data from a host device or transmits scan data to the host device; and   a controller which controls the power supply unit for the image forming apparatus to enter a power save mode upon a reception of a command to enter a first power save mode among the plurality of levels from the terminal device through the communication unit.   
     
     
         12 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising an image forming unit which forms an image,
 wherein the controller identifies the current level of the power save mode upon a reception of at least one job request of the image forming apparatus, controls the power supply unit to be converted into a normal mode from the power save mode and controls the image forming unit to perform the job.   
     
     
         13 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one job comprises at least one of a printing for a print data stored in a storage unit of the image forming apparatus or received from a host device, copying of a document, a fax transmission, a fax reception from outside, a reception of print data from a host device, and scanning of a document. 
     
     
         14 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the controller controls the power supply unit to return to the power save mode according to the level of the power save mode upon a completion of the at least one job. 
     
     
         15 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the controller determines whether a standby time which is preset depending on the level of the power save mode elapses, and controls the power supply unit to return to the power save mode if the standby time elapses. 
     
     
         16 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller controls the power supply unit to selectively supply power to the image forming apparatus depending on the level of the power save mode. 
     
     
         17 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the communication unit receives a command from the terminal device to turn off the power save mode, and the controller controls the power supply unit to be converted into a normal mode from the power save mode according to the command to turn off the power save mode. 
     
     
         18 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the operation panel receives a user interface (UI) input, and the controller controls the power supply unit to be converted into the normal mode upon a reception of the UI input. 
     
     
         19 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of levels of the power save mode is categorized according to at least one of an operation at a time of entering the power save mode, an operation at a time of requesting a job and an operation after a completion of the job. 
     
     
         20 . The image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined home network protocol comprises a universal plug and play (UPnP) protocol. 
     
     
         21 . A power management method of a home network system comprising a control device and a control point, the method comprising:
 setting power save mode information which comprises a plurality of levels corresponding to a predetermined home network protocol to the control point;   storing the set power save mode information;   receiving a command to enter a first power save mode among the plurality of levels from the control device;   comparing the received command to enter the first power save mode with the stored power save mode information; and   entering a power save mode by the control point corresponding to the received command to enter the first power save mode.   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the predetermined home network protocol comprises a universal plug and play (UPnP) protocol. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the control point comprises an image forming apparatus which forms an image,
 the image forming apparatus performs at least one job comprising at least one of a printing for a print data stored in a storage unit of the image forming apparatus or received from a host device, copying of a document, a fax transmission, a fax reception from outside, a reception of print data from a host device, and scanning of a document.