Image forming apparatus and method for selecting a power consumption mode based on a distance to a user

1. A method of controlling an image forming apparatus, the method comprising:

setting a weight value of at least one location in a user sensing area, based on a probability that the user will move to a location for performing an image forming operation;

receiving a reflection signal corresponding to a transmission signal transmitted from the image forming apparatus to the user sensing area, the reflection signal reflected from the user;

determining a location of the user based on the received reflection signal;

determining a distance between the image forming apparatus and the user based on the determined location of the user;

selecting a power consumption mode, from among a plurality of power consumption modes, based on the determined distance between the image forming apparatus and the user; and

performing user authentication or power control according to the selected power consumption mode,

wherein a time for selecting the power consumption mode is based on the set weight value.

2. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of power consumption modes comprises a power saving mode and a power non-saving mode,

wherein, in the power saving mode, power is supplied to some of a plurality of modules included in the image forming apparatus, and

wherein, in the power non-saving mode, power is supplied to each of the plurality of modules.

3. The method of claim 2 ,

wherein the power saving mode includes a first power saving mode and a second power saving mode, based on a type of module supplied with power among the plurality of modules,

wherein, when the determined distance between the image forming apparatus and the user is less than a threshold distance in the user sensing area, the selecting of the power consumption mode comprises selecting the power non-saving mode,

wherein, when the determined distance between the image forming apparatus and the user is equal to or more than the threshold distance in the user sensing area, the selecting of the power consumption mode comprises selecting the first power saving mode, and

wherein, when the user is located outside the user sensing area and the reflection signal is not received, the selecting of the power consumption mode comprises selecting the second power saving mode.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing of the user authentication or the power control comprises, when the user is located within a certain distance from the image forming apparatus for a threshold period of time or more, obtaining authentication information necessary for the user authentication from a terminal of the user.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining coordinates representing the location of the user on a coordinate plane which is set with respect to the image forming apparatus; and

determining a weight value corresponding to the determined coordinates.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sensing a moving route of the user, based on the reflection signal received by a certain time unit; and

comparing a threshold value with a weight value corresponding to at least one location on the sensed moving route of the user to determine the time for selecting the power consumption mode.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmission signal comprises an ultra-wide band (UWB) radar signal.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an output intensity of the transmission signal, based on the user sensing area.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the weight value varies based on a number of times the user is located in the at least one location for performing an image forming operation.

10. An image forming apparatus comprising:

an image former to perform an image forming operation;

a signal transceiver to receive a reflection signal corresponding to a transmission signal transmitted from the image forming apparatus to a user sensing area and reflected from a user;

at least one processor to:

set a weight value of at least one location in a user sensing area, based on a probability that the user will move to a location for performing the image forming operation,

determine a location of the user based on the received reflection signal,

determine a distance between the image forming apparatus and the user based on the determined location of the user, and

select a power consumption mode, from among a plurality of power consumption modes, based on the determined distance between the image forming apparatus and the user; and

a power supply to supply power to the image forming apparatus, based on the selected power consumption mode,

wherein the at least one processor performs user authentication or power control according to the selected power consumption mode, and

wherein a time for selecting the power consumption mode is based on the set weight value.

11. The image forming apparatus of claim 10 ,

wherein the plurality of power consumption modes comprises a power saving mode and a power non-saving mode,

wherein, in the power saving mode, power is supplied to some of a plurality of modules included in the image forming apparatus, and

wherein, in the power non-saving mode, power is supplied to each of the plurality of modules.

12. The image forming apparatus of claim 11 ,

wherein the power saving mode includes a first power saving mode and a second power saving mode, based on a type of module supplied with the power among the plurality of modules,

wherein, when the determined distance between the image forming apparatus and the user is less than a threshold distance in the user sensing area, the at least one processor selects the power non-saving mode,

wherein, when the determined distance between the image forming apparatus and the user is equal to or more than the threshold distance in the user sensing area, the at least one processor selects the first power saving mode, and

wherein, when the user is located outside the user sensing area and the reflection signal is not received, the at least one processor selects the second power saving mode.

13. The image forming apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:

a communicator to, when the user is located within a certain distance from the image forming apparatus for a threshold period of time or more, obtain authentication information necessary for the user authentication from a terminal of the user.

14. The image forming apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor:

determines coordinates representing the location of the user on a coordinate plane which is set with respect to the image forming apparatus, and

determines a weight value corresponding to the determined coordinates.

15. The image forming apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor:

senses a moving route of the user, based on a reflection signal received by a certain time unit, and

compares a threshold value with a weight value corresponding to at least one location on the sensed moving route of the user to determine the time for selecting the power consumption mode.

16. The image forming apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the transmission signal comprises an ultra-wide band (UWB) radar signal.

17. The image forming apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor determines an output intensity of the transmission signal, based on the user sensing area.

18. The image forming apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the weight value varies based on a number of times the user is located in the at least one location for performing the image forming operation.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon instructions, executable by at least one processor, to control an image forming apparatus, the non-transitory computer-readable recording medium comprising:

instructions to set a weight value of at least one location in a user sensing area, based on a probability that the user will move to a location for performing an image forming operation;

instructions to receive a reflection signal corresponding to a transmission signal transmitted from the image forming apparatus to the user sensing area, the reflection signal reflected from the user;

instructions to determine a location of the user based on the received reflection signal;

instructions to determine a distance between the image forming apparatus and the user based on the determined location of the user;

instructions to select a power consumption mode, from among a plurality of power consumption modes, based on the determined distance between the image forming apparatus and the user; and

instructions to perform user authentication or power control according to the selected power consumption mode,

wherein a time for selecting the power consumption mode is based on the set weight value.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 19 , wherein the weight value varies based on a number of times the user is located in the at least one location for performing an image forming operation.