Image forming system including image forming apparatus with sleep mode, control method for image forming apparatus in system concerned, and storage medium storing control program for image forming apparatus

Abstract

An image forming system that is capable of preventing obstruction of transmission of a packet to an information processing apparatus from a USB device supporting USBNW due to the shift to the sleep mode. The image forming system includes an information processing apparatus, an image forming apparatus with a sleep mode, and a USB device that is connected to the information processing apparatus through the image forming apparatus and is controlled by the information processing apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a first determination unit that determines whether the USB device supports USBNW, a second determination unit that determines whether a packet received from the information processing apparatus is processed by a module supporting USBNW, and a control unit that prohibits the image forming apparatus from shifting to the sleep mode when the USB device supports USBNW and when the packet is processed by the module supporting USBNW.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An image forming system comprising:
 an information processing apparatus;   an image forming apparatus with a sleep mode; and   a USB device that is connected to said information processing apparatus through said image forming apparatus and is controlled by said information processing apparatus,   wherein said image forming apparatus comprises:   a first determination unit configured to determine whether said USB device supports USBNW,   a second determination unit configured to determine whether a packet received from said information processing apparatus is processed by a module supporting USBNW, and   a control unit configured to prohibit said image forming apparatus from shifting to the sleep mode when it is determined that said USB device supports USBNW and when it is determined that the packet is processed by the module supporting USBNW.   
     
     
         2 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 , wherein said image forming apparatus further comprises:
 a first obtaining unit configured to obtain identification information about at least said information processing apparatus that transmits the packet from said information processing apparatus when it is determined that the packet is processed by the module supporting USBNW,   a second obtaining unit configured to obtain the identification information about at least said information processing apparatus from the packet when it is determined that the packet is processed by the module supporting USBNW, and   a permission unit configured to permit said information processing apparatus to control said USB device when the identification information about said information processing apparatus obtained by said first obtaining unit coincides with the identification information about said information processing apparatus obtained by said second obtaining unit.   
     
     
         3 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 , wherein said control unit does not prohibit said image forming apparatus from shifting to the sleep mode when said USB device supporting USBNW does not receive the packet transmitted by said image forming apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . A control method for an image forming apparatus in an image forming system that comprises an information processing apparatus, the image forming apparatus with a sleep mode, and a USB device that is connected to the information processing apparatus through the image forming apparatus and is controlled by the information processing apparatus, the control method comprising:
 a first determination step of determining whether the USB device supports USBNW;   a second determination step of determining whether a packet received from the information processing apparatus is processed by a module supporting USBNW; and   a control step of prohibiting the image forming apparatus from shifting to the sleep mode when it is determined that the USB device supports USBNW and when it is determined that the packet is processed by the module supporting USBNW.   
     
     
         5 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a control program causing a computer to execute a control method for an image forming apparatus in an image forming system that comprises an information processing apparatus, the image forming apparatus with a sleep mode, and a USB device that is connected to the information processing apparatus through the image forming apparatus and is controlled by the information processing apparatus, the control method comprising:
 a first determination step of determining whether the USB device supports USBNW;   a second determination step of determining whether a packet received from the information processing apparatus is processed by a module supporting USBNW; and   a control step of prohibiting the image forming apparatus from shifting to the sleep mode when it is determined that the USB device supports USBNW and when it is determined that the packet is processed by the module supporting USBNW.