JP4246560B2 - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including a utility library that provides a user service for image forming processing such as a copy, a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile, and that registers functions for developing an application based on a state transition model. The present invention relates to an application generation method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, there has been known an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “multifunction machine”) in which functions of apparatuses such as a printer, a copy machine, a facsimile machine, and a scanner are housed in one casing. This multifunction device is provided with a display unit, a printing unit, an imaging unit, and the like in one casing, and three types of software (applications) respectively corresponding to a printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile machine, and switching these softwares The apparatus is operated as a printer, a copy, a scanner, or a facsimile apparatus.
[0003]
In such a conventional multifunction device, the application that runs on the multifunction device is developed at the same time by the developer of the multifunction device, and the multifunction device is shipped with the developed application burned to ROM, etc. After that, it is common not to add a new application.
[0004]
By the way, in such a conventional multi-function machine, software corresponding to a printer, a copy, a scanner, and a facsimile apparatus is provided separately, so that development of each software requires a lot of time. For this reason, the applicant has hardware resources used in image forming processing such as a display unit, a printing unit, and an imaging unit, and has an application that performs processing specific to each user service such as a printer, copy, or facsimile. When a user service is provided by interposing between these applications and hardware resources, hardware resource management, execution control, and image formation processing that are commonly required by at least two of the applications are provided. Invented an image forming apparatus (multifunction machine) including a platform including various control services (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-82806 A
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Such a new multi-function peripheral has a platform that performs hardware resource management, execution control, and image formation processing that are commonly required by at least two of the applications, thereby improving the efficiency of software development. This is excellent in that the overall productivity of the apparatus can be improved.
[0007]
On the other hand, in such a new multifunction device, an application and a control service that performs processing that is difficult to develop such as access to hardware resources are provided separately. The third vendor can develop a new external application and install it in the multifunction peripheral.
[0008]
For this reason, in such a multi-function peripheral, a plurality of applications that are separately developed by a plurality of third vendors may be installed and operate simultaneously. In addition, even for one application developed by one third vendor, a plurality of modules inside the application may be freely developed in different departments and integrated and provided as one application.
[0009]
In this way, when application development is entrusted to a third vendor other than the MFP manufacturer, each third vendor will develop the application using its own method. May occur, or may adversely affect existing applications and multifunction peripheral systems that are preinstalled at the time of shipment. In particular, if a shared variable used in an application program or an event unique to the multifunction device is left to a third vendor, there is a high possibility that the system of the multifunction device becomes unstable due to a software failure. Such a problem is not only an application that operates on the image forming apparatus but also an application that operates on a general information processing apparatus.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to obtain an information processing apparatus and an application generation method capable of easily adding an application while maintaining the stability of the system.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a control function unit for transmitting an event message. An information processing apparatus comprising: the information processing apparatus, Application program By the information processing device The application part realized by executing In addition, The application program executes an event function in response to receiving an event message in a certain state, performs a process based on a state transition model for transitioning from the state to another state, and a predetermined event function from the module At least another module that performs processing based on the state transition model that is called by a call, and the application unit includes an event function table that stores event messages and event functions in association with each other, and The application unit further includes means for allocating a shared variable shared by each module to a separate memory area for each module in response to receiving an event message from the control function unit, and an event function table corresponding to the current state. Refer to Accordingly, an information processing apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a means for executing the event function corresponding to the event the received message.
The invention described in claim 2 is a standard function in which the application unit stores a standard function that is executed when an asynchronous event message generated regardless of the state is received and the asynchronous event message associated with each other. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a table and means for executing a standard function corresponding to the received event message by referring to the standard function table.
The invention described in claim 3 is the information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus that executes an image forming process. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the information processing apparatus includes hardware resources used in image forming processing, and the control function unit is interposed between the application unit and the hardware resources. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information processing apparatus is a functional unit that performs execution control of processing using the hardware resources in response to a request from the application unit.
The invention described in claims 5 to 8 is an invention of an information processing method corresponding to the information processing apparatus, and the invention described in claims 9 to 12 is an application corresponding to an application section of the information processing apparatus. The invention according to claim 13 is an invention of a computer-readable recording medium in which the application program is recorded.
It should be noted that the present invention relates to a state that a program can take, an event that can occur to the program under the state, an event function that is executed when the event occurs under the state, and after execution of the event function Implemented in the program including a plurality of nested modules based on a state transition model whose operation is determined by the state of the transition destination of each of the modules, and assigns a shared variable shared by each module to a separate area for each module It can also be configured as an information processing apparatus including a utility library in which a state transition model activation function is registered.
[0012]
According to the present invention, a state that the program can take, an event that can occur to the program under the state, an event function that is executed when the event occurs under the state, and execution of the event function Implemented in the program including a plurality of nested modules based on a state transition model whose operation is determined by the state of the subsequent transition destination, and shared variables shared by each module in separate areas for each module Since it has a utility library in which the state transition model activation function to be assigned is registered, it is possible to safely use shared variables among modules that make up the program, avoid failures caused by variable values, and information processing devices Can maintain the stability of the information processing equipment .
[0013]
Also, the above In the information processing apparatus, the state transition model activation function of the utility library allocates the shared variable to an area specified in a stack area for each module. May be .
[0014]
According to the present invention, the state transition model start function allocates the shared variable to an area specified in the stack area for each module, so that the module can use the stack area used when the function is called. The shared variable can be allocated efficiently at the time of the call.
[0015]
Further, the state transition model start function of the utility library allocates a shared variable shared in units of threads to a separate area for each thread. May be .
[0016]
According to the present invention, the state transition model activation function can safely use the shared variable inside the thread that operates within the process of the program by allocating the shared variable shared by each thread to a separate area for each thread. And avoid failures caused by the value of the variable.
[0017]
The state transition model activation function of the utility library executes an entrance function that defines processing to be performed when the state transition occurs. May be .
[0018]
According to the present invention, the state transition model activation function executes a routinely performed process when calling a module by executing an admission function that defines a process to be performed when the state transition occurs. Can develop programs efficiently.
[0019]
Further, the state transition model start function of the utility library executes a standard function that defines processing to be performed when an asynchronous event that occurs regardless of the state is received. May be .
[0020]
According to the present invention, the state transition model activation function is a system that is generated regardless of the current state by executing a standard function that defines a process to be performed when an asynchronous event that occurs independently of the state is received. It is possible to deal with related events without adversely affecting other programs, and the stability of the image forming apparatus can be improved.
[0025]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Exemplary embodiments of an information processing apparatus and an application generation method according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus will be described as an example of the information processing apparatus.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “multifunction machine”) according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-function device 100 includes a monochrome laser printer (B & W LP) 101, a color laser printer (Color LP) 102, a hard disk device (HDD) 103, and hardware resources 104 such as a facsimile and a memory. In addition, a software group 110 including a platform 120 and an application 130 is provided.
[0027]
The platform 120 interprets a processing request from an application and generates a hardware resource acquisition request, and a system resource manager that manages one or a plurality of hardware resources and arbitrates the acquisition request from the control service. (SRM) 123 and a general-purpose OS 121.
[0028]
The control service is formed of a plurality of service modules, and includes an SCS (system control service) 122, an ECS (engine control service) 124, an MCS (memory control service) 125, an OCS (operation panel control service) 126, and an FCS. (Fax Control Service) 127 and NCS (Network Control Service) 128. The platform 120 has an application program interface (API) that enables a processing request to be received from the application 130 using a predefined function.
[0029]
The general-purpose OS 121 is a general-purpose operating system such as UNIX (registered trademark), and executes the software of the platform 120 and the application 130 in parallel as processes.
[0030]
The process of the SRM 123 performs system control and resource management together with the SCS 122. The SRM123 process uses hardware resources such as engines such as a scanner unit and printer unit, memory, HDD file, and host I / O (Centro I / F, network I / F, IEEE 1394 I / F, RS232C I / F, etc.). Arbitration is performed according to the request from the upper layer to be used, and execution control is performed.
[0031]
Specifically, the SRM 123 determines whether the requested hardware resource is available (whether it is not used by another request), and if it is available, the requested hardware resource is used. Tell the upper layer that it is possible. In addition, the SRM 123 performs use scheduling of hardware resources in response to a request from an upper layer, and directly executes request contents (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation, memory allocation, file generation, etc. by a printer engine). .
[0032]
The process of the SCS 122 performs application management, operation unit control, system screen display, LED display, resource management, interrupt application control, and the like.
[0033]
The process of the ECS 124 controls an engine of a hardware resource 104 including a black and white laser printer (B & W LP) 101, a color laser printer (Color LP) 102, an HDD 103, a scanner, a facsimile, and the like.
[0034]
The MCS 125 process acquires and releases an image memory, uses a hard disk device (HDD), compresses and decompresses image data, and the like.
[0035]
The FCS 127 process includes facsimile transmission / reception using PSTN / ISDN network from each application layer of the system controller, registration / quotation of various facsimile data managed by BKM (backup SRAM), facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, and fusion transmission / reception. Provides an API to do.
[0036]
The NCS 128 process is a process for providing a service that can be commonly used for applications that require network I / O. Data received from the network side according to each protocol is distributed to each application, and data from the application. Mediation when sending to the network side.
[0037]
The process of the OCS 126 controls an operation panel (operation panel) serving as information transmission means between the operator (user) and the main body control. The OCS 126 is an OCS process that acquires a key press (or touch operation) from the operation panel as a key event and transmits a key event function corresponding to the acquired key to the SCS 122. Further, various screens for the operation display unit of the operation panel are rendered and output, and other operations are controlled by calling various functions such as a drawing function registered in the OCS function library from the application 130 or the control service. This OCS function library is dynamically linked to each module of the application 130 and the control service. Note that all of the OCS 126 may be configured to operate as a process, or all of the OCS 126 may be configured as an OCS function library.
[0038]
The application 130 includes a printer application 111 that is a printer application having a page description language (PDL), PCL, and postscript (PS), a copy application 112 that is a copy application, and a fax application 113 that is a facsimile application. A scanner application 114 as a scanner application, a network file application 115 as a network file application, a process inspection application 116 as a process inspection application, and an external application 117 developed by a third party such as a third vendor. Have. The external application 117 is generated by a development method according to the state transition model, and links a utility library in which the state transition model activation function is registered.
[0039]
Each process of the application 130 and each process of the control service realize user services related to image forming processing such as copying, printers, scanners, and facsimiles while performing inter-process communication by calling functions, sending return values thereof, and sending and receiving messages. is doing.
[0040]
As described above, the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of applications 130 and a plurality of control services, all of which operate as processes. In each of these processes, one or a plurality of threads are generated and parallel execution is performed in units of threads. The control service provides a common service to the application 130. For this reason, a large number of these processes perform a parallel operation and a parallel operation of threads to perform inter-process communication with each other. User services related to image forming processing such as copying, printers, scanners, and facsimiles are provided.
[0041]
Also, in the multifunction device 100, a third party such as a customer of the multifunction device 100 or a third vendor can develop and install an external application on the application layer above the control service layer.
[0042]
In the MFP 100 according to the first embodiment, a plurality of application 130 processes and a plurality of control service processes operate. However, the application 130 and the control service process have a single configuration. Is also possible. Each application 130 can be added or deleted for each application.
[0043]
FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration example of the multifunction peripheral 100.
[0044]
The multi-function device 100 includes a controller 160, an operation panel 175, a fax control unit (FCU) 176, and an engine unit 177 that is a hardware resource unique to image forming processing such as a printer. The controller 160 includes a CPU 161, a system memory 162, a north bridge (NB) 163, a south bridge (SB) 164, an ASIC 166, a local memory 167, an HDD 168, a network interface card (NIC) 169, and an SD card. Slot 170, USB device 171, IEEE 1394 device 172, and Centronics 173. The memories 162 and 167 include RAM, ROM, and the like. The FCU 176 and the engine unit 177 are connected to the ASIC 166 of the controller 160 via the PCI bus 178.
[0045]
The CPU 161 reads programs such as applications and control services installed in the multifunction peripheral 100 from the memory and executes them.
[0046]
Next, the internal structure of the process when the external application 117 is executed will be described. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal structure of the process of the external application 117.
[0047]
The process of the external application 117 is a multi-thread environment in which a plurality of threads are executed in parallel. As shown in FIG. 3, the main thread 210 and the image library thread 200 are executed in parallel in the process of the external application 117. The main thread 210 is a thread that executes main processing of the external application 117. When the main thread 210 calls the image library thread 200, function calls such as the control service 140 and VAS (virtual application service) and the return thereof are returned. Receives values and sends and receives messages.
[0048]
Further, the process of the external application 117 includes a sub thread 220, mail boxes 211, 212, 214, and an event acquisition handler (thread) 213. A utility library 215 in which a state transition model activation function is registered is installed in the main thread 210.
[0049]
The mailbox 211 is used for communication between the main thread 210, the image library thread 200, and the event acquisition handler 213. The mailbox 212 is used for communication between the main thread 210 and the image library thread 200. The event acquisition handler 213 receives an event message from a control service such as ECS 124 or MCS 125 or a VAS process, and writes it in the mailbox 211.
[0050]
In order for the main thread 210 to access the control service or the like, after the main thread 310 opens the mail boxes 211, 212, and 214, the image library thread is activated.
[0051]
The main thread 310 enters a function call command to the image library thread 200 in the mailbox 211 with the transmission source information as MB_REQUEST. An event message from the control service 140 or the like also enters the mail box 211 as a mail of the transmission source information MB_CS.
[0052]
The image library thread 200 acquires mail delivered to the mail box 211 using the rcv_msg () function. The image library thread 200 searches for the corresponding function from the transmission source information and the event or function information included in the acquired mail, and executes the function when the corresponding function is found. On the other hand, if no corresponding function is found, no processing is performed.
[0053]
The acquired mail is transferred to the mail box 212 regardless of the execution of the corresponding function. Further, the image library thread 200 puts notifications such as error information, execution results, and progress in the middle of the main thread in the mail box 212 as mail of the transmission source information MB_IMAGE. In addition, the main thread 210 transmits and receives messages in the same manner using the sub thread 220 and the mailboxes 214 and 212.
[0054]
In addition, the utility library 215 and the image library are a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or FD as a part or all of a development tool kit such as a software development kit (SDK) for developing an application of a multifunction device. Provided in a file that can be installed in Further, the utility library 215 and the image library may be provided by a method that can be acquired via a network, such as downloading from a website.
[0055]
In order to generate an external application 117 (an application developed and installed by a third party after shipment of the multifunction peripheral 100) using the utility library 215 and the image library provided in this way, a source file of the external application is generated. Compile by compiler to generate object file. Then, the object file generated by the linker is linked with the utility library 215 and the image library provided by the above-described method to generate an executable file of the external application. The external application execution format file is stored in a flash card or the like, and the multifunction device 100 installs the external application from the flash card, whereby the utility library 215 and the external application on which the image library is mounted are mounted on the multifunction device. . An external application can also be installed from an external server via a network.
[0056]
Next, the state transition model adopted by the external application 117 will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of state transition when the external application 117 has state 1 and state 2. As shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the main thread 210 of the external application 117 has a state 1 and a state 2 and the current state is the state 1. When the event 1 is received from the outside by the rcv_msg () function in a state where the main thread 210 is in the state 1, the event function 1 is executed to make a transition to the state 2, and the entrance function 2 is executed. When the main thread 210 is in this state 2 and receives the event 2, the event function 2 is executed, the state 1 is returned, and the entrance function 1 is executed. On the other hand, when the event 3 is received when the main thread 210 is in the state 2, the event function 3 is executed and the state 2 is maintained.
[0057]
Here, the state refers to a state waiting for an event, and the event is an event that triggers state transition. The admission function is a function that is executed at the time of state transition, and the event function is a function that is executed for an event that has occurred.
[0058]
When creating an external application 117 that performs event processing using such a state transition model, if all of the events that occur are handled by a single module, that is, a group of states at the same level, the number of states increases. The number of events to be processed in one state increases, and the program becomes complicated, resulting in problems such as a reduction in work efficiency and a decrease in maintenance efficiency.
[0059]
For this reason, in the present embodiment, a module (submodule) of a state transition model that processes only events having a mutual relationship from an event group that occurs in the entire external application 117 is created individually. Then, from the module of the state transition model that controls the whole, the sub-module is executed in the form of function call as necessary. The submodule that has received the call further calls a function of the submodule of the state transition model as necessary.
[0060]
Each module can execute accurately even if the same module is called recursively by dynamically allocating shared memory at startup without using global variables that can be used by the entire external application 117. Guaranteed.
[0061]
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the external application 117 including a state transition model module having a nested structure. The example shown in FIG. 5 has three nest structures, and the nest 1 module is called by the event function sub1 (), and the nest 2 module is called by the event function sub2 ().
[0062]
Next, a specific description of the source code of the external application 117 will be described. If there is a variable shared between functions in an entrance function or event function that is executed by a module of the state transition model, the variable cannot be passed as a function argument due to function type restrictions. In addition, when such a variable is defined as a global variable, in the case of a nested module or multithread, there is a high possibility that the contents of the variable will be unexpectedly changed, which causes a failure of the external application 117.
[0063]
In the external application 117 of this embodiment, a variable can be shared by a module of a single state transition model and a nested module. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a source code definition unit of the external application 117.
[0064]
As shown in FIG. 6, in the source code of the external application 117, variables that are handled like global variables in the entrance function and event function described in the same file are collected, and one structure (demoCommonParm_t) is defined as a shared variable. To do. Also, COMMON_STRUCT is defined to easily access this shared variable.
[0065]
In the example of FIG. 6, the external application 117 has two states DEMO_ST_IDLE and DEMO_ST_RUN, and event function tables eventDemoIdle and eventDemoRun for each state are defined. In addition, demoStTbl [] is described in the order of the states in which the entrance function of each state and the event function table used in the module of the state transition model are defined. Also, by specifying a thread number with THREAD_NO, it becomes possible to use a shared variable that is valid within the thread with this thread number.
[0066]
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a function definition unit of the source code of the external application 117. The execDemoFunc function performs processing for starting the state transition model. Specifically, after securing and setting the shared variable area, the state transition model activation function StMachine () function is called. In the example of FIG. 7, the thread with the thread number THREAD_NO is started from the state number DEMO_ST_IDLE according to the state information table of demoStTble, and indicates that the area indicated by pCom is used as a shared variable, and the state transition model start function StMachine ( ) Is calling. In FIG. 7, the processing of the event function and the entrance function described in FIG. 6 is further described.
[0067]
Next, processing of the state transition model activation function StMachine () will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the state transition model activation function StMachine ().
[0068]
In the state transition model activation function StMachine (), when a message is received, first, a shared variable area is allocated (step S701). FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of shared variable area allocation. As shown in FIG. 9, in the present embodiment, the value of the stack pointer sp corresponds to the nest number as it is, and the state transition model start function StMachine () for each nest module, that is, for each nest module. Each time is executed, a pointer to the shared variable group is stacked in the stack area. Therefore, the shared variable is not inadvertently changed in the lower module, and the shared variable having the same variable name can be used as a global variable while maintaining an accurate value as shown in FIG.
[0069]
Next, the state transition model activation function StMachine () refers to the event function table in the current state and checks its contents (step S702). Then, it is determined whether or not a received message is defined in the event function table (step S703). If a received message is defined, an event function corresponding to the received message is executed (step S704), and an entrance function is further executed (step S705). On the other hand, if the received message is not defined in the event function table, the event function is not executed. Such processing is repeated until the end of the event function table is reached (step S706). In this way, the external application 117 created based on the state transition model is executed.
[0070]
As described above, in the MFP according to the first embodiment, the external application 117 is mounted on the external application 117 including a plurality of nested modules, and the shared variable shared by each module is assigned to a separate area for each module. Since it has the utility library 215 in which the model activation function is registered, the shared variable can be safely used between the modules constituting the external application 117, the failure caused by the value of the variable can be avoided, and the composite While the external application 117 can be mounted on the machine 100, the stability of the multifunction machine 100 can be maintained.
[0071]
(Embodiment 2)
In the MFP 100 of the first embodiment, since the external application 117 is created based on the state transition model, only the event function depending on the state is executed. Then, the external application 117 performs standard processing that does not depend on the state. Note that the internal structures of the processes of the MFP 100 and the external application 117 of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.
[0072]
In the MFP 100 of the second embodiment, the state transition model activation function StMachine () of the utility library is configured to perform standard processing.
[0073]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of the state transition model activation function StMachine (). The processing from the allocation of the shared variable to the execution of the admission function (steps S901 to S906) is the same as the state transition model activation function StMachine () of the first embodiment.
[0074]
In the state transition model activation function StMachine () of the present embodiment, the standard function table is further referred to and the content is checked (step S907). Here, the standard function is a function of processing executed independently of the current state when an event is received. For example, there are a process for a power-off event, a process for notifying the owner authority of an application, and a process for notifying the owner authority. The standard function table defines standard functions to be executed for messages (events) and has the same structure as the event function table.
[0075]
Then, it is determined whether or not a received message is defined in the standard function table (step S908). If a received message is defined, a standard function corresponding to the received message is executed (step S909). On the other hand, when the received message is not defined in the standard function table, the standard function is not executed. Such processing is repeated until the end of the standard function table is reached (step S910). In the external application 117 created based on the state transition model in this way, standard processing is executed for an event that comes asynchronously regardless of the current state.
[0076]
As described above, in the MFP 100 according to the second embodiment, the state transition model activation function executes a standard function that defines processing to be performed when an asynchronous event that occurs regardless of the current state is received. A system-related event such as power OFF that occurs regardless of the current state can be dealt with without adversely affecting other applications, and the stability of the MFP 100 can be improved.
[0077]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a shared variable can be safely used between modules constituting a program, a failure caused by the value of the variable can be avoided, and a new application can be installed in the information processing apparatus. However, there is an effect that the stability of the information processing apparatus can be maintained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a multifunction peripheral according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a multifunction machine.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal structure of a process of an external application.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of state transition when an external application has state 1 and state 2;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an external application including a state transition model module having a nested structure;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a definition part of a source code of an external application.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a function definition unit of a source code of an external application.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a state transition model activation function StMachine ().
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state of shared variable area allocation;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a state transition model activation function StMachine () according to the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 MFP
101 Black and white laser printer
102 color laser printer
103 HDD
104 Hardware resources
110 Software group
111 Printer app
112 Copy application
113 Fax application
114 Scanner app
115 Net file application
116 Process inspection application
117 External application
120 platform
121 General-purpose OS
122 SCS
123 SRM
124 ECS
125 MCS
126 OCS
127 FCS
128 NCS
130 applications
140 Control Service
200 Image library thread
210 Main thread
211, 212, 214 Mailbox
213 Event acquisition handler
215 Utility Library
220 sub-threads

Claims (13)

An information processing apparatus including a control function unit that transmits an event message , wherein the information processing apparatus further includes an application unit realized by an application program being executed by the information processing apparatus ,
The application program executes an event function in response to receiving an event message in a certain state, performs a process based on a state transition model for transitioning from the state to another state, and a predetermined event function from the module And at least another module that performs processing based on the state transition model that is called by a call,
The application unit is provided with an event function table storing event messages and event functions in association with each state,
The application part further includes
Means for allocating a shared variable shared by each module to a separate memory area for each module in response to receiving an event message from the control function unit;
An information processing apparatus comprising: means for executing an event function corresponding to the received event message by referring to an event function table corresponding to a current state. The application part is
A standard function table that stores an asynchronous event message in association with a standard function that is executed when an asynchronous event message that occurs regardless of the state is received;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for executing a standard function corresponding to the received event message by referring to the standard function table.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus that executes an image forming process. The information processing apparatus includes hardware resources used in image forming processing,
The control function unit is a function unit that is interposed between the application unit and the hardware resource, and performs execution control of processing using the hardware resource in response to a request from the application unit. The information processing apparatus described in 1. An information processing method executed by an information processing apparatus including a control function unit that transmits an event message , wherein the information processing apparatus further includes an application unit realized by an application program being executed by the information processing apparatus. Prepared,
The application program executes an event function in response to receiving an event message in a certain state, performs a process based on a state transition model for transitioning from the state to another state, and a predetermined event function from the module And at least another module that performs processing based on the state transition model that is called by a call,
The application unit includes an event function table that stores event messages and event functions in association with each state, and the information processing method includes:
The application unit assigns a shared variable shared by each module to a separate memory area for each module in response to receiving an event message from the control function unit;
The information processing method comprising: a step of executing an event function corresponding to the received event message by referring to an event function table corresponding to a current state. The application unit further includes a standard function table that stores an asynchronous event message that is associated with a standard function that is executed when an asynchronous event message that occurs regardless of the state is received, and the information processing method includes:
The information processing method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of executing a standard function corresponding to the received event message by the application unit referring to the standard function table.   The information processing method according to claim 5, wherein the information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus that executes an image forming process. The information processing apparatus includes hardware resources used in image forming processing,
The control function unit is a function unit that is interposed between the application unit and the hardware resource, and controls execution of processing using the hardware resource in response to a request from the application unit. Information processing method described in 1. An application program that causes an information processing apparatus including a control function unit that transmits an event message to function as an application unit,
The application program executes an event function in response to receiving an event message in a certain state, performs a process based on a state transition model for transitioning from the state to another state, and a predetermined event function from the module And at least another module that performs processing based on the state transition model that is called by a call,
The application unit is provided with an event function table storing event messages and event functions in association with each state,
The application part further includes
Means for allocating a shared variable shared by each module to a separate memory area for each module in response to receiving an event message from the control function unit;
An application program comprising: means for executing an event function corresponding to the received event message by referring to an event function table corresponding to a current state. The application part is
A standard function table that stores an asynchronous event message in association with a standard function that is executed when an asynchronous event message that occurs regardless of the state is received;
The application program according to claim 9, further comprising means for executing a standard function corresponding to the received event message by referring to the standard function table.   The application program according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus that executes an image forming process. The information processing apparatus includes hardware resources used in image forming processing,
The control function unit is a function unit that is interposed between the application unit and the hardware resource, and performs execution control of processing using the hardware resource in response to a request from the application unit. Application program described in.   A computer-readable recording medium in which the application program according to any one of claims 9 to 12 is recorded.

Images