Communication apparatus

Abstract

A printer has a controller configured to give an instruction to a LAN controller, the instruction specifying which one of communication speeds the LAN controller should communicate at. When it is determined that the mode of the printer is changed from a power mode in which power is supplied to the controller to a power mode in which power is not supplied to the controller, the controller instructs the LAN controller to reduce the communication speed. After the instruction to reduce the communication speed is given, a power supply unit cuts off power supply to the controller.

1. A communication apparatus comprising:
 a communication unit configured to communicate with an external apparatus via a network at any one of a plurality of communication speeds; 
 a controller configured to at least give an instruction to the communication unit, the instruction specifying which one of the communication speeds the communication unit should communicate at, and to determine whether to allow the communication apparatus to change a power mode from a first power mode in which the power is supplied to the controller to a second power mode in which the power is not supplied to the controller; and 
 a power supply unit configured to supply power to the controller, 
 wherein the power supply unit cuts off power supply to the controller when the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the first power mode to the second power mode and gives an instruction to the communication unit to reduce the communication speed. 
 
     
     
       2. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an output unit configured to output a return instruction to the power supply unit to return from the second power mode to the first power mode,
 wherein the power supply unit restarts supplying power to the controller in response to reception of the return instruction from the output unit. 
 
     
     
       3. The communication apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the controller gives an instruction to increase the communication speed in response to the restarting of power supply in response to the return instruction. 
     
     
       4. The communication apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the output unit outputs the return instruction to the power supply unit in response to reception of data by the communication unit from the external apparatus in the second power mode. 
     
     
       5. The communication apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising an operation unit configured to receive an instruction given by an operator of the communication apparatus,
 wherein the output unit outputs the return instruction to the power supply unit in response to reception of the instruction, which is given by the operator, by the operation unit in the second power mode. 
 
     
     
       6. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a printing unit configured to perform a printing process on the basis of printing data received by the communication unit from the external apparatus. 
     
     
       7. The communication apparatus according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the power supply unit supplies power to the printing unit in the first power mode and does not supply power to the printing unit in the second power mode. 
 
     
     
       8. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the controller determines whether to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from a third power mode in which power consumption is higher than that in the first power mode to the first power mode, and 
 wherein the controller gives an instruction to reduce the communication speed when the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the third power mode to the first power mode. 
 
     
     
       9. The communication apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising a clock supply unit configured to supply a clock signal for operating the controller,
 wherein the controller gives an instruction to reduce the frequency of the clock signal, which is supplied from the clock supply unit to the controller, when the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the third power mode to the first power mode. 
 
     
     
       10. The communication apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the third power mode to the first power mode when the communication apparatus does not operate for a predetermined period of time in the third power mode. 
     
     
       11. The communication apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the first power mode to the second power mode when the communication apparatus does not operate for a predetermined period of time in the first power mode. 
     
     
       12. A communication apparatus comprising:
 a communication unit configured to communicate with an external apparatus via a network at any one of a plurality of communication speeds;   a controller configured to at least give an instruction for setting one of the plurality of communication speeds to the communication unit and to determine whether to allow the communication apparatus to change a power mode from a first power mode to a second power mode, wherein an amount of power consumed by the controller in the second power mode is lower than that in the first power mode; and   a power supply unit configured to supply power to the controller,   wherein, when the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the first power mode to the second power mode, the controller transmits an instruction for lowering a communication speed of the communication unit,   wherein the communication unit lowers the communication speed in accordance with the instruction for lowering the communication speed transmitted from the controller, and   wherein the power supply unit cuts off power supply to the controller after the transmission of the instruction for lowering the communication speed from the controller to the communication unit.   
     
     
       13. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the second power mode is a mode in which power is not supplied from the power supply unit. 
     
     
       14. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising an output unit configured to output a return instruction to the power supply unit to return from the second power mode to the first power mode,
 wherein the power supply unit restarts supplying power to the controller in accordance with the return instruction outputted from the output unit.   
     
     
       15. The communication apparatus according to claim 14,
 wherein the controller transmits an instruction for increasing the communication speed when the amount of power consumed by the controller has been increased in accordance with the return instruction,   wherein the communication unit increases the communication speed in accordance with the instruction for increasing the communication speed transmitted from the controller.   
     
     
       16. The communication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the output unit outputs the return instruction to the power supply unit in accordance with reception of data by the communication unit in the second power mode. 
     
     
       17. The communication apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising an operation unit configured to receive an instruction given by an operator of the communication apparatus,
 wherein the output unit outputs the return instruction to the power supply unit in accordance with reception of the instruction, which is given by the operator, by the operation unit in the second power mode.   
     
     
       18. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a printing unit configured to perform a printing process on the basis of printing data received by the communication unit from the external apparatus. 
     
     
       19. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the controller determines whether to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from a third power mode in which power consumption is higher than that in the first power mode to the first power mode, and
 wherein the controller transmits the instruction for lowering the communication speed when the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the third power mode to the first power mode.   
     
     
       20. The communication apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a clock supply unit configured to supply a clock signal for operating the controller,
 wherein the controller transmits an instruction for lowering a frequency of the clock signal, which is supplied from the clock supply unit to the controller, when the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the third power mode to the first power mode.   
     
     
       21. The communication apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the third power mode to the first power mode when the communication apparatus does not operate for a predetermined period of time in the third power mode. 
     
     
       22. The communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the first power mode to the second power mode when the communication apparatus does not operate for a predetermined period of time in the first power mode. 
     
     
       23. A communication apparatus comprising:
 a communication unit configured to communicate with an external apparatus via a network at any one of a plurality of communication speeds;   a controller configured to at least give an instruction for setting one of the plurality of communication speeds to the communication unit and to determine whether to allow the communication apparatus to change a power mode from a first power mode to a second power mode, wherein an amount of power consumed by the controller in the second power mode is lower than that in the first power mode; and   a power supply unit configured to supply power to the controller,   wherein, when the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the first power mode to the second power mode, the controller transmits a first instruction for lowering a communication speed of the communication unit and transmits a second instruction for cutting off power supply to the controller to the power supply unit, the second instruction being transmitted after the first instruction,   wherein the communication unit lowers the communication speed in accordance with the first instruction transmitted from the controller, and   wherein the power supply unit cuts off power supply to controller in accordance with the second instruction transmitted from the controller.   
     
     
       24. The communication apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the second power mode is a mode in which power is not supplied from the power supply unit. 
     
     
       25. The communication apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising an output unit configured to output a return instruction to the power supply unit to return from the second power mode to the first power mode,
 wherein the power supply unit restarts supplying power to the controller in accordance with the return instruction outputted from the output unit.   
     
     
       26. The communication apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the controller transmits a third instruction for increasing the communication speed in response to the restarting of power supply in accordance with the return instruction. 
     
     
       27. The communication apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the output unit outputs the return instruction to the power supply unit in accordance with reception of data by the communication unit in the second power mode. 
     
     
       28. The communication apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising an operation unit configured to receive an instruction given by an operator of the communication apparatus,
 wherein the output unit outputs the return instruction to the power supply unit in accordance with reception of the instruction, which is given by the operator, by the operation unit in the second power mode.   
     
     
       29. The communication apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising a printing unit configured to perform a printing process on the basis of printing data received by the communication unit from the external apparatus. 
     
     
       30. The communication apparatus according to claim 23,
 wherein the controller determines whether to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from a third power mode in which power consumption is higher than that in the first power mode to the first power mode, and   wherein the controller transmits the first instruction for lowering the communication speed when the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the third power mode to the first power mode.   
     
     
       31. The communication apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising a clock supply unit configured to supply a clock signal for operating the controller,
 wherein the controller transmits a fourth instruction for lowering a frequency of the clock signal, which is supplied from the clock supply unit to the controller, when the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the third power mode to the first power mode.   
     
     
       32. The communication apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the third power mode to the first power mode when the communication apparatus does not operate for a predetermined period of time in the third power mode. 
     
     
       33. The communication apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the first power mode to the second power mode when the communication apparatus does not operate for a predetermined period of time in the first power mode. 
     
     
       34. A communication apparatus comprising:
 a communication unit configured to communicate with an external apparatus via a network at any one of a plurality of communication speeds;   a controller configured to at least give an instruction for setting one of the plurality of communication speeds to the communication unit and to determine whether to allow the communication apparatus to change a power mode from a first power mode to a second power mode, wherein an amount of power consumed by the controller in the second power mode is lower than that in the first power mode; and   a power supply unit configured to supply power to the controller,   wherein, when the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the first power mode to the second power mode, the controller transmits an instruction for lowering a communication speed of the communication unit,   wherein the communication unit lowers the communication speed in accordance with the instruction for lowering the communication speed transmitted from the controller, and   wherein the power supply unit reduces the amount of power consumed by the controller after the transmission of the instruction for lowering the communication speed from the controller to the communication unit.   
     
     
       35. The communication apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the second power mode is a mode in which power is not supplied from the power supply unit. 
     
     
       36. The communication apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising an output unit configured to output a return instruction to the power supply unit to return from the second power mode to the first power mode,
 wherein the power supply unit increases the amount of power consumed by the controller in accordance with the return instruction outputted from the output unit.   
     
     
       37. The communication apparatus according to claim 36,
 wherein the controller transmits an instruction for increasing the communication speed when the amount of power consumed by the controller has been increased in accordance with the return instruction,   wherein the communication unit increases the communication speed in accordance with the instruction for increasing the communication speed transmitted from the controller.   
     
     
       38. The communication apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the output unit outputs the return instruction to the power supply unit in accordance with reception of data by the communication unit in the second power mode. 
     
     
       39. The communication apparatus according to claim 36, further comprising an operation unit configured to receive an instruction given by an operator of the communication apparatus,
 wherein the output unit outputs the return instruction to the power supply unit in accordance with reception of the instruction, which is given by the operator, by the operation unit in the second power mode.   
     
     
       40. The communication apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising a printing unit configured to perform a printing process on the basis of printing data received by the communication unit from the external apparatus. 
     
     
       41. The communication apparatus according to claim 34,
 wherein the controller determines whether to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from a third power mode in which power consumption is higher than that in the first power mode to the first power mode, and   wherein the controller transmits the instruction for lowering the communication speed when the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the third power mode to the first power mode.   
     
     
       42. The communication apparatus according to claim 41, further comprising a clock supply unit configured to supply a clock signal for operating the controller,
 wherein the controller transmits an instruction for lowering a frequency of the clock signal, which is supplied from the clock supply unit to the controller, when the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the third power mode to the first power mode.   
     
     
       43. The communication apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the third power mode to the first power mode when the communication apparatus does not operate for a predetermined period of time in the third power mode. 
     
     
       44. The communication apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the first power mode to the second power mode when the communication apparatus does not operate for a predetermined period of time in the first power mode. 
     
     
       45. A communication apparatus comprising:
 a communication unit configured to communicate with an external apparatus via a network at any one of a plurality of communication speeds;   a controller configured to at least give an instruction for setting one of the plurality of communication speeds to the communication unit and to determine whether to allow the communication apparatus to change a power mode from a first power mode to a second power mode, wherein an amount of power consumed by the controller in the second power mode is lower than that in the first power mode; and   a power supply unit configured to supply power to the controller,   wherein, when the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the first power mode to the second power mode, the controller transmits a first instruction for lowering a communication speed of the communication unit and transmits a second instruction for reducing the amount of power consumed by the controller to the power supply unit, the second instruction being transmitted after the first instruction,   wherein the communication unit lowers the communication speed in accordance with the first instruction transmitted from the controller, and   wherein the power supply unit reduces the amount of power consumed by the controller in accordance with the second instruction transmitted from the controller.   
     
     
       46. The communication apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the second power mode is a mode in which power is not supplied from the power supply unit. 
     
     
       47. The communication apparatus according to claim 45, further comprising an output unit configured to output a return instruction to the power supply unit to return from the second power mode to the first power mode,
 wherein the power supply unit increases the amount of power consumed by the controller in accordance with the return instruction outputted from the output unit.   
     
     
       48. The communication apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the controller transmits a third instruction for increasing the communication speed when the amount of power consumed by the controller has been increased in accordance with the return instruction. 
     
     
       49. The communication apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the output unit outputs the return instruction to the power supply unit in accordance with reception of data by the communication unit in the second power mode. 
     
     
       50. The communication apparatus according to claim 47, further comprising an operation unit configured to receive an instruction given by an operator of the communication apparatus,
 wherein the output unit outputs the return instruction to the power supply unit in accordance with reception of the instruction, which is given by the operator, by the operation unit in the second power mode.   
     
     
       51. The communication apparatus according to claim 45, further comprising a printing unit configured to perform a printing process on the basis of printing data received by the communication unit from the external apparatus. 
     
     
       52. The communication apparatus according to claim 45,
 wherein the controller determines whether to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from a third power mode in which power consumption is higher than that in the first power mode to the first power mode, and   wherein the controller transmits the first instruction for lowering the communication speed when the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the third power mode to the first power mode.   
     
     
       53. The communication apparatus according to claim 52, further comprising a clock supply unit configured to supply a clock signal for operating the controller,
 wherein the controller transmits a fourth instruction for lowering a frequency of the clock signal, which is supplied from the clock supply unit to the controller, when the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the third power mode to the first power mode.   
     
     
       54. The communication apparatus according to claim 52, wherein the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the third power mode to the first power mode when the communication apparatus does not operate for a predetermined period of time in the third power mode. 
     
     
       55. The communication apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the controller determines to allow the communication apparatus to change the power mode from the first power mode to the second power mode when the communication apparatus does not operate for a predetermined period of time in the first power mode.