Power control method and apparatus for data processing systems

Claim 2

A power control method for controlling a power ON/OFF control means to timely switch ON and OFF a power supply of a data processing system carrying out data processing in accordance with a program stored in a memory, wherein at least one of said system and power ON/OFF control means include a timer means and said system further includes means for holding a power ON reservation time scheduled for respective job streams to be performed, said power control method comprsing the steps of: determining whether or not a particular job stream, scheduled to have begun earlier, has ended; if it is determined that said particular job stream has ended reading the present time from said timer means, corresponding to the time said particular job ends, and the power ON reservation time, corresponding to a next scheduled job stream, from said holding means; detecting whether or not said power ON reservation time, corresponding to the next scheduled job stream, has passed at the time when said particular job stream was determined as having ended; and deactivating said power supply by said power ON/OFF control means when the result of the detection is positive, indicating that said power ON reservation time has not passed, and continuing the active ON condition of said power supply of said system when the result of said detection is negative, indicating that said power ON reservation time has passed.

Claim 3

A power control method according to claim 1, wherein said detection step further comprises the steps of: checking whether or not said present time corresponds to an actual time prior to said power ON reservation time by a time period equal to or greater than a predetermined period of time, and maintaining said power supply active if the checking result is negative, and deactivating said power supply if the checking result is positive.

Claim 4

A power control method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: executing the power OFF condition of said power supply if a specific condition of said system, referred to as a specific power OFF factor, makes it impossible to carry out said job stream during the processing of said job stream.

Claim 5

A power control method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of: resetting said timer means if said specific power OFF factor occurs during the processing of said job stream.

Claim 6

A power control method according to claim 3, wherein said power OFF factor includes a hardware fault condition in said system.

Claim 7

A power control method according to claim 4, wherein said power OFF factor includes a hardware fault condition in said system.

Claim 8

A power control method according to claim 1, wherein said power ON reservation time schedule is held in a register means.

Claim 9

A power control method for controlling a power ON/OFF control means to timely ON and OFF a power supply of a data processing system carrying out data processing in accordance with a program stored in a memory wherein at least one of said system and power ON/OFF control unit include a timer means and said system further includes means for holding a power ON reservation time schedule for respective job streams to be performed, said power control method comprising the steps of: determining whether or not a particular job stream, scheduled to have begun earlier, has ended; if it is determined that said particular job stream has ended reading the present time from said timer means, corresponding to the time said particular job ends, and the power ON reservation time, corresponding to a next scheduled job stream, from said holding means; detecting whether or not said present time corresponds to an actual time prior to said power ON reservation time by a time period equal to or greater than a predetermined period of time; and deactivating said power supply by said power ON/OFF control means when the result of said detection is positive, indicating that said present time is earlier than said power ON reservation time by at least said predetermined period of time, and maintaining said power supply active when the result of said detection is negative, indicating that said present time is not earlier than said power ON reservation time by at least said predetermined period of time.

Claim 10

A power control method for controlling a power ON/OFF control means to timely ON and OFF a power supply of a data processing system carrying out data processing in accordance with a program stored in a memory wherein at least one of said system and power ON/OFF control unit include a timer means and said system further includes means for holding a power ON reservation time schedule for respective job streams to be performed, said power control method comprising the steps of: determining whether or not a particular job stream, scheduled to have begun earlier, has ended; if it is determined that said particular job stream has ended reading the present time from said timer means, corresponding to the time said particular job ends, and the power ON reservation time, corresponding to a next scheduled job stream, from said holding means; detecting whether or not said present time corresponds to an actual time prior to said power ON reservation time by a time period equal to or greater than a predetermined period of time; and deactivating said power supply by said power ON/OFF control means when the result of said detection is positive, indicating that said present time is earlier than said power ON reservation time by at least said predetermined period of time, and maintaining said power supply active when the result of said detection is negative, indicating that said present time is not earlier than said power ON reservation time by at least said predetermined period of time.

Claim 11

A power control apparatus for controlling a power ON/OFF control means to timely switch ON and OFF a power supply of a data processing system carrying out data processing in accordance with a program stored in a memory, wherein at least one of said system and/or power ON/OFF control means include a timer means, said apparatus comprising: means for holding a power ON reservation time schedule for respective job streams to be performed; means for determining whether or not a particular job stream, scheduled to have begun earlier, has ended; means for reading the present time from said timer means, if it is determined that said particular job stream has ended, and the power ON reservation time, corresponding to a next scheduled job stream, from said holding means; means for detecting whether or not said power ON reservation time, corresponding to the next scheduled job stream, has passed at the time when said particular job stream was determined as having ended; and means for actuating said power ON/OFF control means to deactivate said power supply when the result of the detection is positive, indicating that said power ON reservation time has not passed, and continuing the active ON condition of said power supply of said system when the result of said detection is negative, indicating that said power ON reservation time has passed.

Claim 12

A power control apparatus for controlling a power ON/OFF control means to timely switch ON and OFF a power supply of a data processing system carrying out data processing in accordance with a program stored in a memory, wherein at least one of said system and/or power ON/OFF control means include a timer means, said apparatus comprising: means for holding a power ON reservation time schedule for respective job streams to be performed; means for determining whether or not a particular job stream, scheduled to have begun earlier, has ended; means for reading the present time from said timer means, if it is determined that said particular job stream has ended, and the power ON reservation time, corresponding to a next scheduled job stream, from said holding means; means for detecting whether or not said power ON reservation time, corresponding to the next scheduled job stream, has passed at the time when said particular job stream was determined as having ended; and means for actuating said power ON/OFF control means to deactivate said power supply when the result of the detection is positive, indicating that said power ON reservation time has not passed, and continuing the active ON condition of said power supply of said system when the result of said detection is negative, indicating that said power ON reservation time has passed.

Claim 13

A power control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said means for detecting comprising: detection means for determing whether or not said present time corresponds to an actual time prior to said power ON reservation time by a time period equal to or greater than a predetermined period of time; and means for maintaining said power supply active if the result detected is negative, and deactivating said power supply if the result detected is positive.

Claim 14

In an apparatus, including a data processing system powered by a power supply, and carrying out data processing in accordance with a program stored in a memory, a power ON/OFF control means and wherein at least one of said data processing system and/or said power ON/OFF control means include a timer means, a power control method for timely switching ON and OFF said power supply by said power ON/OFF control means comprising the steps of: holding a power ON reservation time schedule for respective job streams to be performed; determining whether or not a particular job stream, scheduled to have begun earlier, has ended; reading the present time from said timer means, including the time said particular job ends, and the power ON reservation time, corresponding to a next scheduled job stream, from said holding means; detecting whether or not said power ON reservation time, corresponding to the next scheduled job stream, has passed at the time when said particular job stream was determined as having ended; and deactivating said power supply by said power ON/OFF control means when the result of the detection is positive, indicating that said power ON reservation time has not passed, and continuing the active ON condition of said power supply of said system when the result of said detection is negative, indicating that said power ON reservation time has passed.

Claim 15

In an apparatus, including a data processing system powered by a power supply, and carrying out data processing in accordance with a program stored in a memory, a power ON/OFF control means and wherein at least one of said data processing system and/or said power ON/OFF control means include a timer means, a power control method for timely switching ON and OFF said power supply by said power ON/OFF control means comprising the steps of: holding a power ON reservation time schedule for respective job streams to be performed; determining whether or not a particular job stream, scheduled to have begun earlier, has ended; reading the present time from said timer means, including the time said particular job ends, and the power ON reservation time, corresponding to a next scheduled job stream, from said holding means; detecting whether or not said power ON reservation time, corresponding to the next scheduled job stream, has passed at the time when said particular job stream was determined as having ended; and deactivating said power supply by said power ON/OFF control means when the result of the detection is positive, indicating that said power ON reservation time has not passed, and continuing the active ON condition of said power supply of said system when the result of said detection is negative, indicating that said power ON reservation time has passed.

Claim 16

A power control method according to claim 11, wherein said detection step further comprises the steps of: checking whether or not said present time corresponds to an actual time prior to said power ON reservation time by a time period equal to or greater than a predetermined period of time, and maintaining said power supply active if the checking result is negative, and deactivating said power supply if the checking result is positive.

Claim 17

A power control method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of: executing the power OFF condition of said power supply if a specific condition of said system, referred to as a specific power OFF factor, makes it impossible to carry out said job stream during the processing of said job stream.

Claim 18

A power control method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of: resetting said timer means if said specific power OFF factor occurs during the processing of said job stream.

Claim 19

A power control method according to claim 13, wherein said power OFF factor includes a hardware fault condition in said system.