Selecting from a plural of energy saving modes

An image processing apparatus, comprising:

• an energy saving mode entering process part configured to associate each of plural functions and a minimum necessary energy saving mode of plural energy saving modes to perform the function as first information;
• and
• a counting process part configured to count a usage period of time for a used function of the plural functions for each unit period of time, wherein
• the energy saving mode entering process part is configured to determine which of the plural energy saving modes to enter based on the counted usage periods of time for a present unit period of time and cause the image processing apparatus to enter the determined energy saving mode,
• the counting process part is configured to count the usage period of time for the used function for every unit period of time, with the used function being associated with at least one of plural devices,
• the energy saving mode entering process part is configured to compare, based on the counted usage periods of time, the devices each having an associated usage period of time equal to or more than a predetermined value in the present unit period of time with devices each to have power supplied in each energy saving mode, determine the energy saving mode having a largest number of devices to have power supplied which match the devices each having the associated usage period of time equal to or more than the predetermined value in the present unit period of time, and cause the image processing apparatus to enter the determined energy saving mode,
• the counting process part is configured to determine the devices the used function uses, add up the associated usage period of time for each of the devices associated with the used function for each unit period of time to obtain second information, and add up the second information for each second unit period of time that is longer than the unit period of time to obtain third information, and
• the energy saving mode entering process part is configured to determine which of the plural energy saving modes to enter based on the third information, and causes the image processing apparatus to enter the determined energy saving mode.

A control method for controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising:

• counting a usage period of time for a used function of plural functions for each unit period of time;
• determining the energy saving mode associated with the used function, and counting the usage period of time at each unit period of time for each energy saving mode determined;
• and
• determining which of plural energy saving modes to enter based on the counted usage periods of time for a present unit period of time, the determining including determining which of the plural energy saving modes to enter based on the counted energy saving mode having a largest value of the usage period of time at the present unit period of time;
• associating each of the plural functions with a minimum necessary energy saving mode of the plural energy saving modes to perform the function as first information;
• and
• entering the determined energy saving mode,
• the method further comprising:
• determining based on the first information the energy saving mode associated with the used function, adding up the usage period of time for each unit period of time and for each determined energy saving mode to obtain second information;
• and
• adding up the second information for each second unit period of time that is longer than the unit period of time to obtain third information.