Information processing system, image processing controller, and image processing controller control method

Abstract

An information processing system includes a first information processing apparatus, and a second information processing apparatus. The second information processing apparatus periodically acquires information from the first information processing apparatus, and stops periodically acquiring information if there is a factor for shifting a power state of the first information processing apparatus into a power saving state. The second information processing apparatus transmits information to the first information processing apparatus in a case where periodically acquiring information from the first information processing apparatus is stopped. The first information processing apparatus shifts into the second power state if the information is received.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An information processing system comprising:
 a first information processing apparatus configured to be in a first power state and a second power state that is lower in power consumption than the first power state, and a second information processing apparatus for communicating with the first information processing apparatus,   wherein the first information processing apparatus includes:   a first transmission unit configured to transmit first information to the second information processing apparatus in a case where a factor for shifting the power state of the first information processing apparatus into the second power state is detected,   wherein the second information processing apparatus includes:   a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the power state of the first information processing apparatus is to be shifted into the second power state, in a case where the first information transmitted from the first transmission unit is received by the second information processing apparatus; and   a second transmission unit configured to transmit second information to the first information processing apparatus in a case where the determination unit determines that the power state of the first information processing apparatus is to be shifted into the second power state, and   wherein the first information processing apparatus includes:   a shifting unit configured to shift the power state of the first information processing apparatus into the second power state in a case where the second information transmitted from the second transmission unit is received by the first information processing apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The information processing system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second information processing apparatus includes:   a control unit configured to stop periodically acquiring information from the first information processing apparatus in a case where the determination unit determines that the power state of the first information processing apparatus is to be shifted into the second power state.   
     
     
         3 . The information processing system according to  claim 2 , wherein the second transmission unit is configured to transmit the second information to the first information processing apparatus after the control unit stops periodically acquiring information from the first information processing apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The information processing system according to claim  1 , wherein the second information processing apparatus further includes another control unit configured to communicate with an external apparatus that transmits image data. 
     
     
         5 . The information processing system according to  claim 4 , wherein the second information processing apparatus further includes a conversion unit configured to convert image data transmitted from the external apparatus into printable data. 
     
     
         6 . The information processing system according to  claim 5 , wherein the conversion unit is configured to convert the image data into a raster image. 
     
     
         7 . The information processing system according to  claim 2 , wherein the control unit is configured to acquire a status of the first information processing apparatus before stopping periodically acquiring information from the first information processing apparatus, and
 the control unit is configured to respond to an inquiry from the external apparatus about the status of the first information processing apparatus based on the status of the first information processing apparatus acquired by the control unit.   
     
     
         8 . The information processing system according to  claim 7 , wherein the control unit is configured to respond to an inquiry from the external apparatus about information about the first information processing apparatus based on the acquired status of the first information processing apparatus without causing the first information processing apparatus to return to the first power state. 
     
     
         9 . The information processing system according to  claim 2 , wherein the control unit is configured to restart periodically acquiring information about the first information processing apparatus in a case where a factor for shifting the power state of the first information processing apparatus into the first power state is detected. 
     
     
         10 . An image processing controller for communicating with an image forming apparatus configured to be in a first power state and a second power state that is lower in power consumption than the first power state, the image processing controller comprising:
 a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the power state of the image forming apparatus is to be shifted into the second power state, in a case where first information transmitted from the image forming apparatus is received by the image processing controller, wherein the first information is transmitted in a case where a factor for shifting the power state of the image forming apparatus into the second power state is detected;   a transmission unit configured to transmit second information to the image forming apparatus in a case where the determination unit determines that the power state of the image forming apparatus is to be shifted into the second power state, wherein the power state of the image forming apparatus is shifted into the second power state in a case where the second information transmitted from the transmission unit is received by the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         11 . The image processing controller according to  claim 10 , further comprising a control unit configured to communicate with an external apparatus that transmits image data. 
     
     
         12 . The image processing controller according to  claim 11 , further comprising a conversion unit configured to convert image data transmitted from the external apparatus into printable data. 
     
     
         13 . The image processing controller according to  claim 12 , wherein the conversion unit is configured to convert the image data into a raster image. 
     
     
         14 . The image processing controller according to  claim 11 , wherein the control unit is configured to acquire a status of the image forming apparatus before stopping periodically acquiring information from the image forming apparatus, and
 the control unit is configured to respond to an inquiry from the external apparatus about the status of the image forming apparatus based on the status about the image forming apparatus acquired by the control unit.   
     
     
         15 . The image processing controller according to  claim 14 , wherein the control unit is configured to respond to an inquiry from the external apparatus about information about the image forming apparatus based on the acquired status of the image forming apparatus without causing the image forming apparatus to return to the first power state. 
     
     
         16 . The image processing controller according to  claim 10 , wherein the transmission unit is configured to transmit the information after the control unit stops periodically acquiring information from the image forming apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The image processing controller according to  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is configured to restart periodically acquiring information about the image forming apparatus in a case where a factor for shifting the power state of the image forming apparatus into the first power state is detected. 
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling an image processing system comprising a first information processing apparatus configured to be in a first power state and a second power state that is lower in power consumption than the first power state and a second information processing apparatus for communicating with the first information processing apparatus, method comprising:
 transmitting first information to the second information processing apparatus in a case where a factor for shifting the power state of the first information processing apparatus into the second power state is detected;   determining whether or not the power state of the first information processing apparatus is to be shifted into the second power state, in a case where the first information transmitted from the first information processing apparatus is received by the second information processing apparatus;   transmitting second information to the first information processing apparatus in a case where it is determined that the power state of the first information processing apparatus is to be shifted into the second power state; and   shifting the power state of the first information processing apparatus into the second power state in a case where the second information transmitted from the second transmission unit is received by the first information processing apparatus.   
     
     
         19 . A method for controlling an image processing controller for communicating with an image forming apparatus configured to take a first power state and a second power state that is lower in power consumption than the first power state, the method comprising:
 determining whether or not the power state of the image forming apparatus is to be shifted into the second power state, in a case where first information transmitted from the image forming apparatus is received by the image processing controller, wherein the first information is transmitted in a case where a factor for shifting the power state of the image forming apparatus into the second power state is detected;   transmitting second information to the image forming apparatus in a case where it is determined that the power state of the image forming apparatus is to be shifted into the second power state, wherein the power state of the image forming apparatus is shifted into the second power state in a case where the second information transmitted from the transmission unit is received by the image forming apparatus.