Information processing apparatus and method for controlling the same

1. An Information processing apparatus, comprising:

a camera that acquires image data;

a first control unit that performs a moving-object detection process for detecting a moving object using low resolution image data acquired by the camera;

a second control unit that performs a user authenticating process for authenticating a user who uses the information processing apparatus using high resolution image data acquired by the camera in a normal power consumption mode; and

a power control unit that shifts the information processing apparatus to a power saving mode in which electric power is supplied to the first control unit and in which supply of electric power to the second control unit is stopped,

wherein, in the power saving mode, the power control unit shifts the information processing apparatus to the normal power consumption mode in which electric power is supplied to the second control unit when the first control unit detects a moving object in the moving-object detection process;

wherein, in the power saving mode, the camera has low imaging resolution, and in the normal power consumption mode, the camera has high imaging resolution.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first control unit performs the moving-object detection process by comparing the low resolution image data acquired by the camera with background data stored in advance.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second control unit performs the user authenticating process by comparing a feature of a face of a user imaged by the camera with a feature of a user stored in advance.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a switching unit that switches a destination of the image data acquired by the camera to the first control unit or the second control unit,

wherein, in the power saving mode, the switching unit switches the destination of the image data acquired by the camera to the first control unit, and in the normal power consumption mode, switches the destination of the image data acquired by the camera to the second control unit.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the switching unit comprises a bus switch.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein, when a moving object is detected in the moving-object detection process, the first control unit switches the destination of the image data acquired by the camera from the first control unit to the second control unit.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a printing unit that prints an image on a sheet.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7 ,

wherein the second control unit further performs a face-orientation detecting process for detecting orientation of a face of the user who uses the information processing apparatus using the image data acquired by the camera, and

wherein, when the second control unit determines that the orientation of the face of the user faces a predetermined direction in the face-orientation detecting process, the power control unit shifts the information processing apparatus to an operating mode in which the printing unit is capable of printing.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the single sensor from the camera comprises a camera.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the camera is disposed upward with respect to a horizontal direction.

11. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus comprising a camera having a single sensor that acquires image data, the method comprising:

performing a moving-object detection process for detecting a moving object using low resolution image data acquired by the camera;

performing a user authenticating process for authenticating a user who uses the information processing apparatus using high resolution image data acquired by the camera in a normal power consumption mode;

shifting the information processing apparatus to a power saving mode in which electric power is supplied to a first control unit that performs the moving-object detection process and in which supply of electric power to a second control unit that performs the user authenticating process is stopped; and

in the power saving mode, shifting the information processing apparatus to the normal power consumption mode in which electric power is supplied to the second control unit when a moving object is detected in the moving-object detection process,

wherein, in the power saving mode, the camera has low imaging resolution, and in the normal power consumption mode, the camera has high imaging resolution.

12. The method for controlling the information processing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the first control unit performs the moving-object detection process by comparing the low resolution image data acquired by the camera with background data stored in advance.

13. The method for controlling the information processing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the second control unit performs the user authenticating process by comparing a feature of a face of a user imaged by the camera with a feature of a user stored in advance.

14. The method for controlling the information processing apparatus according to claim 11 , the method further comprising, in the power saving mode, switching a destination of the image data acquired by the camera to the first control unit, and in the normal power consumption mode, switching the destination of the image data acquired by the camera to the second control unit.

15. The method for controlling the information processing apparatus according to claim 11 , the method further comprising printing an image on a sheet.

16. The method for controlling the information processing apparatus according to claim 11 , the method further comprising:

performing a face-orientation detecting process for detecting orientation of a face of the user who uses the information processing apparatus using the image data acquired by the camera; and

when the orientation of the face of the user faces a predetermined direction in the face-orientation detecting process, shifting the information processing apparatus to an operating mode in which a printing unit is capable of printing.