Image forming apparatus and image forming method

An image forming apparatus for forming an image, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• an engine configured to perform an operation involving image formation;
• an engine control unit configured to control the engine;
• a first storage unit configured to be accessible by the engine control unit and store therein first engine information that represents a configuration of the engine;
• an apparatus control unit configured to control the whole of the image forming apparatus;
• a second storage unit configured to be accessible by the apparatus control unit and store therein second engine information that represents a configuration of the engine;
• and
• a state management unit configured to set the image forming apparatus to a power-saving mode in which the apparatus control unit and the second storage unit are supplied with power while the engine, the engine control unit, and the first storage unit are not supplied with power when a main power supply that supplies the power is turned on, wherein
• when the image forming apparatus is set to the power-saving mode, the apparatus control unit reads out the second engine information stored in the second storage unit and runs an application involving image formation on the basis of the second engine information to perform a start-up process on the apparatus control unit, and the image forming apparatus comprising:
• a display control unit configured to control a display unit;
• and
• a third storage unit configured to be accessible by the display control unit and store therein first display information to be displayed on the display unit, wherein
• the second storage unit further stores therein second display information to be displayed on the display unit, and
• when the image forming apparatus is set to the power-saving mode, the apparatus control unit further reads out the second display information stored in the second storage unit and performs a start-up process on the apparatus control unit by running the application on the basis of the second display information.

An image forming method performed in an image forming apparatus that includes an engine configured to perform an operation involving image formation, an engine control unit configured to control the engine, a first storage unit configured to be accessible by the engine control unit and store therein first engine information that represents a configuration of the engine, an apparatus control unit configured to control the whole of the image forming apparatus, and a second storage unit configured to be accessible by the apparatus control unit and store therein second engine information that represents a configuration of the engine, the image forming method comprising:

• setting the image forming apparatus to a power-saving mode in which the apparatus control unit and the second storage unit are supplied with power while the engine, the engine control unit, and the first storage unit are not supplied with power when a main power supply that supplies the power is turned on;
• receiving an instruction for turning off the main power supply;
• reading out, when the image forming apparatus is set to the power-saving mode, the second engine information stored in the second storage unit;
• running an application involving image formation on the basis of the read second engine information to perform a start-up process on the apparatus control unit;
• and
• writing the first engine information stored in the first storage unit to the second storage unit as the second engine information when the instruction for turning off the main power supply is received.

An image forming method performed in an image forming apparatus that includes an engine configured to perform an operation involving image formation, an engine control unit configured to control the engine, a first storage unit configured to be accessible by the engine control unit and store therein first engine information that represents a configuration of the engine, an apparatus control unit configured to control the whole of the image forming apparatus, and a second storage unit configured to be accessible by the apparatus control unit and store therein second engine information that represents a configuration of the engine, the image forming method comprising:

• setting the image forming apparatus to a power-saving mode in which the apparatus control unit and the second storage unit are supplied with power while the engine, the engine control unit, and the first storage unit are not supplied with power when a main power supply that supplies the power is turned on;
• reading out, when the image forming apparatus is set to the power-saving mode, the second engine information stored in the second storage unit;
• and
• running an application involving image formation on the basis of the read second engine information to perform a start-up process on the apparatus control unit, wherein
• the image forming apparatus further includes
• a display control unit configured to control a display unit;
• and
• a third storage unit configured to be accessible by the display control unit and store therein first display information to be displayed on the display unit,
• the second storage unit further stores therein second display information to be displayed on the display unit, and
• the image forming method further comprises:
• reading out the second display information stored in the second storage unit when the image forming apparatus is set to the power-saving mode;
• and
• performing a start-up process on the apparatus control unit by running the application on the basis of the read second display information.