Image forming apparatus and network connection method thereof
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorYoun-jae KIM
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An image forming apparatus includes a communication interface unit to communicate with a network using a physical layer protocol (PHY), a first control unit that includes a first Media Access Controller (MAC) to perform Media Access Control for the PHY when the image forming apparatus operates in a normal mode, and to control the image forming apparatus, a second control unit that includes a second Media Access Controller (MAC) to perform Media Access Control for the PHY when the image forming apparatus operates in a power saving mode, and a switching unit to switch a data path between the PHY, the first MAC, and the second MAC according to the operation mode of the image forming apparatus.
Claims20
An image forming apparatus to operate in a plurality of operation modes, the image forming apparatus comprising:
- a communication interface unit to communicate with a network using a physical layer protocol (PHY);
- a first control unit including a first Media Access Controller (MAC) to perform Media Access Control for the PHY when the image forming apparatus operates in a normal mode, and to control the image forming apparatus;
- a second control unit including a second Media Access Controller (MAC) to perform Media Access Control for the PHY when the image forming apparatus operates in a power saving mode;
- and
- a switching unit to switch a data path between the PHY, the first MAC, and the second MAC according to the operation mode of the image forming apparatus.
A network connection method of an image forming apparatus which is connected to a network using a physical layer protocol (PHY) and operates in a plurality of operation modes, the method comprising:
- determining the operation mode of the image forming apparatus;
- forming a first data path between a first control unit, which includes a first Media Access Controller (MAC) to perform Media Access Control for the PHY when the image forming apparatus operates in a normal mode and which controls functions of the image forming apparatus, and the PHY;
- forming a second data path between a second control unit, which includes a second Media Access Controller (MAC) to perform Media Access Control for the PHY when the image forming apparatus operates in a power saving mode and which operates with lower power than the first control unit, and the PHY;
- and
- switching to the first data path or the second data path according to the operation mode of the image forming apparatus.
A method of connecting an image forming apparatus to a network with a physical layer protocol (PHY), the method comprising:
- determining an operation mode of the image forming apparatus;
- switching to a first data path between a first control unit of the image forming apparatus and the PHY when it is determined that the operation mode is a normal operation mode;
- and
- switching to a second data path between a second control unit and the PHY when it is determined that the operation mode is a power saving mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.