Image processing apparatus and operation mode switching control method for the same

An image processing apparatus for switching an operation mode between an ordinary power supplying mode and a power saving mode for suppressing power consumption more than the ordinary power supplying mode comprising:

• operation means for being operated by a user to execute an operation of the image processing apparatus;
• display means for displaying a state of the image processing apparatus and various instructions to the user on the operation means;
• discrimination information obtaining means for obtaining a user discrimination information from a non-contact medium in which the user discrimination information is stored to permit use of the image processing apparatus;
• information discrimination means for discriminating approval or disapproval of use of the image processing apparatus from the user discrimination information obtained by the discrimination information obtaining means;
• operation mode discrimination means for discriminating whether the operation means is operated and the operation mode of the image processing apparatus is switched from the power saving mode to the ordinary power supplying mode or not;
• and
• control means for controlling the display means to display that the use of the image processing apparatus is permitted when the operation mode discrimination means discriminates that the operation mode of the image processing apparatus is switched to the ordinary power supplying mode after the image processing apparatus obtains the user discrimination information from the discrimination information obtaining means on the power saving mode and when the information discrimination means discriminates that the image processing apparatus is permitted to use.

An operation mode switching control method for an image processing apparatus having an operation panel and a display unit for switching an operation mode between an ordinary power supplying mode and a power saving mode for suppressing power consumption more than the ordinary power supplying mode comprising:

• accepting an operation of the operation panel to execute an operation of the image processing apparatus;
• displaying a state of the image processing apparatus and various instructions to a user on the display unit;
• obtaining a user discrimination information from a non-contact medium in which the user discrimination information is stored to permit use of the image processing apparatus;
• discriminating approval or disapproval of use of the image processing apparatus from the user discrimination information obtained;
• discriminating whether the operation mode of the image processing apparatus is switched from the power saving mode to the ordinary power supplying mode or not by the acceptance of the operation from the operation panel;
• and
• displaying on the display unit that the use of the image processing apparatus is permitted when the operation mode of the image processing apparatus is switched to the ordinary power supplying mode after the image processing apparatus obtains the user discrimination information on the power saving mode and when the image processing apparatus is permitted to use.