An image processing apparatus is provided with a main controller unit that comprehensively controls the image processing apparatus, and a microcomputer that controls a load. During a period in which the image processing apparatus transitions from a first power mode to a second power mode having lower power consumption than the first power mode, the main controller unit prohibits acceptance of an interrupt signal, and cancels the prohibition of interrupts when the transition to the second power mode completes. Meanwhile, when an interrupt signal is generated from the load during the transition period, the microcomputer repeatedly notifies the interrupt signal as a pulse signal to the main controller unit, and notifies by changing the pulse signal to a level signal when prohibition of interrupts is cancelled.

A printer control method prevents the user from repeatedly executing an error recovery operation when a cutter error occurs. The printer 2 has a cutter 22 that moves a movable knife 32 between a home position HP and cutting position CP and cuts recording paper 6 at the cutting position CP. When a cutter error in which the movable knife 32 does not return from the home position HP is detected (step ST5), the host device 3 reports a cutter error (step ST6). When the printer 2 executes a cutter error recovery operation (step ST9) and again detects a cutter error (step ST5), it detects a non-recoverable error as being unable to recover from the cutter error (step ST10), and reports the non-recoverable error (step ST11).

The history record unit, in the non-volatile storage device, records recovery history information showing a history of the recovery process. The suspension control unit, when the recovery process' frequency specified based on the recovery history information exceeds a first reference frequency, restricts execution of the specific suspension process which is in response to a satisfaction of the suspension condition. Further, the suspension control unit, when the recovery process' frequency specified based on the recovery history information is lower than a second reference frequency, which is lower than the first reference frequency, under a situation where the specific suspension process' execution is restricted, cancels the restricting of the specific suspension process' execution.

A remote override system may comprise a remote device and a local device. The remote device may include a remote device computer having a remote device processor and a remote device communication interface, and an outgoing override signal handler capable of sending an override signal by way of the remote device communication interface. The local device may include a local device computer having a local device processor and a local device communication interface, and an incoming override signal handler capable of receiving the override signal by way of the local device communication interface. The override signal may be capable of causing override of a power saving mode at the local device.

An image forming apparatus, and a method of controlling it. The apparatus performs, in a case where at least one function out of a plurality of functions of the apparatus ceases to be usable, degeneracy control for operating to provide functions other than the at least one function, and stores information indicating a degeneracy control state is entered. The apparatus controls so as to activate without initialization operation of an image forming mechanism in a case where it is determined that the activation is due to the return from a power saving mode and the information is stored and so as to activate with the initialization operation when the activation is due to a power of the apparatus being turned on.

An information processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store information related to an activation of the information processing apparatus, a control unit configured to perform a control such that, in a case where the information stored in the storage unit relates to a first activation, the information processing apparatus is shifted into a standby state when power is supplied to the information processing apparatus, and in a case where the stored information relates to a second activation, the information processing apparatus is shifted into the standby state when the power is supplied to the information processing apparatus and also a signal input to the control unit is put into a particular state, and a power supply control unit configured to put the signal input to the control unit into the particular state when the information processing apparatus is not shifted into the standby state even when the power is supplied.

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a sheet based on image data, a control unit configured to control driving of the image forming unit, and a power supply unit configured to, if a factor for shifting from a power saving state to a standby state is detected, supply power to the image forming unit and the control unit. If a first type of factor is detected as the factor in the power saving state, the power supply unit supplies power to the control unit and the image forming unit, and the control unit restricts the driving of the image forming unit. If an instruction to perform a function of forming an image on a sheet is accepted, the control unit cancels restriction of the driving of the image forming unit.

An image forming apparatus capable of switching power state between a first power state and a second power state, which is lower in power than the first power state, shifts from the second power state to the first power state. In a case where the image forming apparatus shifts to the second power state in response to a current time reaching a set time, the image forming apparatus is controlled not to shift from the second power state to the first power state in response to an object approaching the image forming apparatus being detected.

An image forming apparatus includes a main controller, a universal serial bus (USB) interface to which an external USB device is connected, a voltage bus (VBUS) power supply to supply power to the USB interface through the VBUS line, a voltage change detector to output a wake-up signal to the main controller if a voltage change occurs on the VBUS line, a USB host controller to perform data communication with the USB device connected through the USB interface, and an image forming job performing unit to perform an image forming job according to control by the main controller.

A method for minimizing power consumption of a laser printer includes receiving page description language (PDL) data corresponding to a printing task, identifying commands corresponding to the received PDL data, computing a total predicted rendering time corresponding to the identified commands, computing a print deferral time according to the total predicted rendering time wherein the print deferral time corresponds to an amount of time by which printing drum initialization can be deferred without delaying completion of the printing task, and configuring a printing drum to begin operation according to the print deferral time. A computer program product and computer system corresponding to the method are also disclosed.