JP5445051B2 - Information processing apparatus, API program, and log environment providing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an API program, and a log environment providing method.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses (MFP: Multi-Function Peripheral) are related to MFP such as CPU (Central Processing Unit) performance improvement, memory capacity increase, communication technology speed up and digital image technology advancement. With the evolution of this technology, various functions such as a networked facsimile, printer, and scanner function are installed in addition to functions as a digital copying machine, and are used in various situations in a user's environment.

  Such an image forming apparatus is equipped with hardware resources used in image forming processing such as a display unit, a printing unit, and an imaging unit, and performs processing specific to each user service such as a printer, copy, or facsimile. Management of hardware resources, execution control, and images that are commonly required by a plurality of applications when providing a user service by installing a plurality of applications and interposing these applications and hardware resources. It has a platform consisting of various control services that perform formation processing. In such an image forming apparatus, since an application and a control service are provided separately, new functions and extended functions can be easily added, for example, in the form of a plug-in even after the apparatus is shipped. .

  Here, the application that realizes the various functions to be added can be developed and provided by a third party such as an external vendor in addition to the device developer (manufacturer). In order to support this third-party application, the device developer prepares a general-purpose I / F such as SDK (Software Development Kit) so that users and external vendors can develop applications and use image processing devices. The processing contents of can be customized to some extent freely. In this way, in recent high-expansion image forming devices, self-developed applications (hereinafter referred to as internal applications) that realize the basic functions of the system, as well as new functions and extended functions that have been introduced. It is known that applications developed in various environments such as applications made by other companies (hereinafter referred to as external applications) are designed to operate.

  By the way, whether it is a device developer or an external vendor, an application developer can find the log useful during development or maintenance (for example, when dealing with bugs). For example, when a problem occurs in an application, the developer on the device developer side refers to the internal application log inside the device, while the developer on the external vendor side outputs a standard input / output mechanism or original log output. Each mechanism has been dealt with by referring to a log of an external application using a mechanism.

  As a technology related to this, Patent Document 1 describes that a system that can immediately start countermeasures against occurrence of a software bug at a customer site without time loss due to a visit is described.

  In the past, external applications from external vendors had few functions that could be freely used for customization. Especially when external application malfunctions, developers from external vendors refer to their own logs to develop equipment. The original developer only had to refer to the internal log and there was no problem.

  However, as the scope of customization of external applications is expanding, if a malfunction occurs that affects the platform function of the device due to the influence of the external application by an external vendor, If you want to efficiently refer to both the internal application sequence on the device platform side and the external application sequence developed by an external vendor, you cannot efficiently refer to both logs as described above. It took time to solve the problem.

  For this reason, for example, a method of integrating both logs is conceivable, but it is difficult for developers on the external vendor side to disclose the internal logs of the apparatus from the viewpoint of confidentiality and security. In addition, the use of the standard input / output function of the device is gradually restricted, and for developers on the device developer side, the sequence of internal applications on the device platform side and external applications developed by external vendors An image forming apparatus that provides an external application log environment as in the past is desired for developers on the outside vendor side.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus, an API program, and a log environment providing method that provide a necessary and sufficient log environment according to roles and improve application development and maintenance efficiency. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to the present invention executes a processing request from a first application, and executes a processing request from a second application by a function defined in advance through an API prepared in advance. An information processing apparatus that receives and executes a processing request, and includes an interface unit that mediates a processing request from the second application through the API, and a first storage that stores a first log associated with the processing operation of the first application Means, second storage means for storing a second log associated with the processing operation of the second application, first log recording means for recording the first log in the first storage means, and the second log. In response to a log recording processing request from the second application, the information is recorded in the second storage unit by the mediation of the interface unit. A log recording processing request from the second application when the second log is recorded in the second storage means by the second log recording means. Is transmitted to the first log recording means, whereby the first storage means stores the first log and the second log.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the information processing apparatus, in response to a log reference request from a third application, the second log stored in the second storage unit is stored by the interface unit. It has log referencing means for referencing, and the interface means mediates only the log reference request for the second log and prohibits mediation of the log reference request for the first log.

  In addition, what applied the arbitrary combination of the component of this invention, expression, or a component to a method, an apparatus, a system, a computer program, a recording medium, etc. is effective as an aspect of this invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus, an API program, and a log environment providing method that provide necessary and sufficient log environments according to roles and improve application development and maintenance efficiency.

1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the main functional structure of the image forming apparatus 100b which concerns on a prior art. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main functional configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. It is a sequence diagram explaining the log recording process accompanying the function execution of the external application. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main functional configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a so-called image forming apparatus that combines a copy function, a facsimile (FAX) function, a print function, a scanner function, a function for distributing an input image, and the like. An example is shown. The present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus, but can be applied to other general computer apparatuses.

(System configuration example)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an imaging unit 101, a printing unit 102, an HDD (hard disk drive) 103, hardware resources 104 such as a facsimile and a memory, a platform 120, an application, and the like. 110 and a software group including an API (Application Program Interface) 140.

  The application 110 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 which is a scanner application, and an external application 115 developed by a third party such as an external vendor.

  The printer application 111, the copy application 112, the fax application 113, and the scanner application 114 are various applications that are mounted on the image forming apparatus 100 as standard applications (in advance at the time of shipment). Therefore, the standard application is configured with applications for realizing basic functions of the image forming apparatus 100 such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function.

  The external application 115 is an application that is additionally installed as an additional application, for example, after the image forming apparatus 100 is shipped. The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can execute an external application 115 developed using a dedicated SDK (Software Development Kit) via the API 140. The API 140 is located between the application 110 and the platform 120 (may be included in the platform 120). Software is developed for the external application 115 using instructions and functions that can be used by the SDK, and the API 140 is an interface that allows a processing request to be received from the external application 115 using a predefined function. In particular, the external application 15 is software that is developed by a third party such as an external vendor and provides a new function or an extended function that realizes an individual correspondence function (customization function) to the user. An application developed using the SDK is also referred to as an SDK application. As a dedicated SDK, “CSDK” for developing an application in the C language, “Application for developing an application in the Java (registered trademark) language” JSDK "is provided. In the case of supporting JSDK, the JSDK platform exists as software for realizing the execution environment of the JSDK application 147 described in the Java (registered trademark) language (not shown).

  Here, standard applications that provide basic functions, such as the printer application 111, the copy application 112, the fax application 113, and the scanner application 114, can be regarded as the above-described internal applications. Further, an additional application that provides a new function or an extended function, for example, the external application 115 can be regarded as the above-described external application.

  The platform 120 interprets a processing request from the application 110 and generates a hardware resource acquisition request, and a system resource that manages one or a plurality of hardware resources and arbitrates the acquisition request from the control service. A manager (SRM) 123 and a general-purpose OS 121 are included.

  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 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 110 in parallel as processes.

  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. 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). .

  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.

  The process of the ECS 124 controls the engine of the hardware resource 104 including the imaging unit 101, the printing unit 102, the HDD 103, the scanner, the facsimile, and the like.

  The MCS 125 process acquires and releases an image memory, uses a hard disk device (HDD), compresses and decompresses image data, and the like.

  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.

  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.

  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. Also, 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 110 or the control service. This OCS function library is dynamically linked to each module of the application 110 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.

  The print module 129, the scan module 130, and the fax module 131 are operation modules or platform components that realize a user-provided function using a standard application. For example, the copy application 112 uses the print module 129 and the scan module 130 to realize a copy function to be provided to the user. In addition, the log recording module 132 functions as a log mechanism that records processing operation logs of the print module 129, the scan module 130, the fax module 131, and the like in a log file.

  As described above, each process of the application 110, each operation module, and the control service performs image forming processing such as copying, printer, scanner, facsimile, etc. while performing inter-process communication by function call, return value transmission, and message transmission / reception. The user service concerning is realized.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus 100, a third party such as a customer or an external vendor can develop and install the external application 115 in the application layer above the control service layer. Each application 110 can be added or deleted for each application.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The hardware of the image forming apparatus 100 includes a controller 201, an operation panel 202, a facsimile control unit (FCU) 203, an imaging unit 101, and a printing unit 101.

  The controller 201 includes a CPU 211, ASIC 212, NB 221, SB 222, MEM-P 231, MEM-C 232, HDD 103, memory card slot 234, NIC (network interface controller) 241, USB device 242, IEEE 1394 device 243, and Centronics device 244. .

  The CPU 211 is an IC for various information processing. The ASIC 212 is an IC for various image processing. The NB 221 is a north bridge of the controller 201. The SB 222 is a south bridge of the controller 201. The MEM-P 231 is a system memory of the image forming apparatus 100. The MEM-C 232 is a local memory of the image forming apparatus 100. The HDD 103 is a storage of the image forming apparatus 100. The memory card slot 234 is a slot for setting the memory card 235. The NIC 241 is a controller for network communication using a MAC address. The USB device 242 is a device for providing a USB standard connection terminal. The IEEE 1394 device 243 is a device for providing a connection terminal of the IEEE 1394 standard. The Centronics device 244 is a device for providing a Centronics specification connection terminal.

  The operation panel 202 is hardware (operation unit) for an operator to input to the image forming apparatus 100 and hardware (display unit) for an operator to obtain an output from the image forming apparatus 100.

  Note that the details of the hardware of the image forming apparatus can be applied to a conventional image forming apparatus, and thus further description thereof is omitted here.

(function)
Here, first, in order to facilitate understanding of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100b according to the related art will be supplemented. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the main functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 100b according to the prior art. A conventional method for recording processing operation logs of internal and external applications will be described with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, various applications that are installed on the image forming apparatus 100 as standard applications (such as the printer application 111, the copy application 112, the fax application 113, the scanner application 114, etc.) as standard applications are described as “internal”. It will be referred to as an “app”. For convenience of explanation, an application that has been developed by a third party such as an external vendor and is additionally installed as software that provides an extended function with respect to a standard function after the image forming apparatus 100 is shipped, for example, ".

  In the platform 120, the internal application 111a uses an operation module (platform component) 129a to realize a standard function related to image formation. In addition, the operation module 129a records a log of the processing operation using the log recording module (log mechanism) 132 in accordance with the processing operation for realizing the standard function. The log recording module 132 outputs an internal log file to the internal storage area 103a as a log output destination. The internal log file is, for example, a log file in which a sequence of processing operations of the operation module 129a operating on the internal platform is recorded. The internal log file referred to here means a log file that can be referred to only by a developer on the image forming apparatus developer side. This is because it is difficult for external developers to disclose the internal log of the device from the viewpoint of confidentiality and security.

  On the other hand, the external application 115a functions using the operation module 129a in the platform 120 via the function API 140a. The function API 140a is an external function providing I / F that is open to external vendors and prepared in advance. The external application 115a is an operation module that uses a function defined in advance via the API to realize the function. A processing request is made to 129a. Heretofore, the log by the external application 115a is conventionally used at the time of development / maintenance by using an external log mechanism (log recording module 115b) unique to an external vendor or using a standard input / output mechanism (not shown). The log to be referenced is recorded independently. That is, the developer of the external vendor freely outputs the log of the external application 115a. Here, as a log output destination, for example, it is recorded as an external log file in the external storage area 103b permitted to be used by an external vendor.

  For this reason, when a problem that affects the function on the platform 120 side of the apparatus occurs due to the influence of the external application 115a by an external vendor, each log is conventionally recorded separately, and the image forming apparatus developer side As a developer, the log of both the sequence of the internal application 111a (or the operation module 129a) on the device platform 120 side and the sequence of the external application 115a developed by an external vendor cannot be referred to efficiently. Specifically, the developer on the image forming apparatus developer side only refers to the internal log file in the internal storage area 103a and the external log file in the external storage area 103b simultaneously.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the main functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. Compared to the conventional image forming apparatus 100b (FIG. 3), the image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment includes a log API 140b as an external function providing I / F.

  As shown in the figure, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, a log API 140b is prepared in advance as an external function providing I / F, and a log recording module 115c that performs log recording of the external application 115a. (Of course, the log recording module 115c may be included in the external application 115a). The log recording module 115c that performs log recording of the external application 115a uses a predefined function. Similarly to the case where the external application 115a uses the function API 140a, a log API 140b that is an interface for log output is used. Use. The log recording module 115c performs log recording to an external log file in the external storage area 103b via the log API 140b in response to a log recording processing request from the external application 115a. At this time, the log recording processing request from the external application 115 a is transmitted to the log recording module 132 in the platform 120 via the log API 140 b. That is, the log recording module 115c can record a log in the internal log file in the internal storage area 103a using the log recording module 132 in the platform 120. As a result, the log output from the external application 115a is also recorded in the internal log file, and at the same time, is also recorded in the external log file.

  As described above, when the log API 140b, which is an interface for log output, is prepared, when logging the external application 115a by an external vendor, the log of the external application 115a is maintained while maintaining confidentiality and security. Since it can also be recorded in the internal log file of the internal storage area 103a, the developer on the image forming apparatus developer side can determine the sequence of the internal application 111a (or operation module 129a) on the apparatus platform 120 side and the external vendor. Thus, it is possible to efficiently and efficiently refer to both logs of the sequence of the external application 115a developed by the above. As an external vendor, the external log file in the external storage area 103b is still secured, so that the external log file can be referred to as usual. In addition, when the specification on the flat form 120 side is changed due to the appearance of the next generation flat form, the log recording module 115c of the external application 115a is still used by making only the API 140b compatible with the next generation flat form specification. This also eliminates the need for external vendors to make new specification changes.

  Note that these modules are actually executed by the CPU 211 of the image forming apparatus 100 to realize these functions. Therefore, for example, the function API 140a and the log API 140b can function as an interface unit, the log recording module 132 can function as a first log recording unit, and the log recording module 115c can function as a second log recording unit.

(Operation)
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating a log recording process associated with the function execution of the external application. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to the drawings.

  First, the external application 115c makes a log output request at the start of external application function execution to the log API 140b of the external function providing I / F (S501). When the log API 140b issues a log output request to the log recording module 132 that implements the log mechanism in the platform 120 (S502), the log API 140b outputs the log API to the internal log file in the internal storage area 103a (S503). ). In addition, the log API 140b also outputs a log to the external log file 140b in the external storage area 103b (S504).

  After that, when the external application 115c performs a function execution request to the function API 140a of the external function providing I / F in order to execute the external application function (S505), the operation module 129a is preliminarily set via the function API 140a. The processing request of the external application 115c is received by the defined function (S506), and the external application function is executed (S507). In the present embodiment, the external application 115c realizes a so-called extended function, and the external application function is executed using the operation module 129a. In response to this function execution process, the operation module 129a makes a log output request to the log recording module 132 (S508), and the log recording module 132 outputs it to the internal log file (S509).

  Then, the external application 115c makes a log output request when the external application function execution is completed to the log API 140b of the external function providing I / F (S509). When the log API 140b makes a log output request to the log recording module 132 in the platform 120 (S510), the log API 140b is output to the internal log file by the log recording module 132 (S511). In addition, the log API 140b also outputs a log to the external log file 140b (S512).

  As described above, in the case of the log recording process according to the present embodiment, the log output (S503 and S511) is output to the internal log file at the start of function execution and at the completion of function execution. By referring to the internal log file, the developer unifies the logs of both the sequence of the internal application 111a (or operation module 129a) on the device platform 120 side and the sequence of the external application 115a developed by the external vendor. Can be referred to efficiently. More specifically, the log output (S503) at the start of function execution indicates whether the intended initial values of various parameters are normally passed from the external application 115a to the operation module 129a, or the log output at the completion of function execution ( S511), for example, can confirm whether or not various intended parameter return values are normally passed from the operation module 129a to the external application 115a. It can also be confirmed.

  Further, the developer on the external vendor side can refer to the external log file as before, since the external log file in the external storage area 103b is still secured.

(See log)
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the main functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. For the image forming apparatus 100 (FIG. 4), a log reference application 115d is included as an external application.

  By providing the log reference application 115d, which is a log reference application, to the external vendor on the image forming apparatus developer side, the developer of the external application can refer to the external log file. At this time, the log reference application 115d cannot refer to the internal log file from the viewpoint of confidentiality and security, and is limited to referencing only the external log file. According to such a log reference application 115d, the developer of the external vendor can be limited to the log reference of only the log file for external use, so that confidential information inside the apparatus is not referred to. In addition, the developer of the external application can refer to only the external log to be referred to. In other words, for external vendor developers, even if the log for internal use is completely hidden, the scope of reference can be limited without affecting the development efficiency of the external application itself. Yes.

(Summary)
Hereinafter, functions and effects of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment executes a processing request from the first application, and receives and executes a processing request from the second application by using a function defined in advance through an API prepared in advance. An information processing apparatus that mediates a processing request from the second application through the API, stores a first log associated with the processing operation of the first application, and stores a first log associated with the processing operation of the second application. The first log is recorded in the first storage means, and the second log is received by the interface means in response to a log recording processing request from the second application. The interface means records the second log in the second storage means by the second log recording means. Rutoki, by transmitting the recording processing request logs from the second application to said first log recording unit, wherein the first storing means, the first log and the second log are stored.

  Therefore, according to this configuration, a log recording processing request from an external application developed by an external vendor is mediated by a log API that is an interface. Then, an external log (for example, the second log) is recorded in the storage area for external vendor (for example, the second storage area), and the external storage area for the device developer (for example, the first storage area) is also externally stored. The log for use (for example, the second log) is recorded. That is, since the internal log (for example, the first log) and the external log (for example, the second log) are recorded in the storage area for the device developer (for example, the first storage area), the apparatus developer The side can efficiently and efficiently refer to both logs (for example, sequences) of internally-produced internal apps and external apps developed by external vendors.

  In addition, since the external log (for example, the second log) is still recorded in the storage area for the external vendor (for example, the second storage area), the external vendor can freely refer to the external log as usual. can do.

  In addition, because the log recording processing request from an external application developed by an external vendor is mediated by the log API that is an interface, the specification on the image forming apparatus side is changed due to the advent of next-generation flat forms, etc. By making the API only compatible with next-generation flat form specifications, it is still possible to receive log recording processing requests from external applications developed by external vendors, and external vendors also need new specification changes. You do n’t have to.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, these are illustrations of this invention and can also employ | adopt various structures besides the above.

  For example, in the embodiment described above, the log recording module 115c is configured to perform log recording of the external application 115a. However, the configuration is not particularly limited. For example, the external application 115a includes the log recording module 115c. Also good. In this case as well, the operational effect of being able to make a log recording process request from an external application via the log API 140b is the same.

  In addition, the external function providing I / F includes the function API 140a and the log API 140b. However, there is no particular limitation, and the function API 140a may include the log API 140b. In this case as well, the operational effect of being able to mediate the log processing request of the external application is the same.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus, an API program, and a log environment providing method that provide a necessary and sufficient log environment according to roles and improve application development and maintenance efficiency. Become.

  Although the present invention has been described based on each embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the requirements shown here, such as combinations with other elements listed in the above embodiments. With respect to these points, the present invention can be changed within a range that does not detract from the gist of the present invention, and can be appropriately determined according to the application form. Moreover, what applied the component, expression, or arbitrary combinations of the component of this invention to a method, an apparatus, a system, a computer program, a recording medium, etc. is also effective as an aspect of this invention.

100 Image forming apparatus 103a Internal recording area 103b External recording area 110 Application 111a Internal application 115a External application 115b, c Log recording module 115d Log reference application 120 Platform 129a Operation module 132 Log recording module 140 API
140a Function API
140b Log API

JP 2007-257085 A

Claims (5)

An information processing apparatus that executes a processing request from a first application and receives and executes a processing request from a second application by a function defined in advance through an API prepared in advance.
Interface means for mediating a processing request from the second application by the API;
First storage means for storing a first log associated with the processing operation of the first application;
Second storage means for storing a second log associated with the processing operation of the second application;
First log recording means for recording the first log in the first storage means;
Second log recording means for recording the second log in the second storage means by mediation of the interface means in response to a log recording processing request from the second application,
The interface means transmits a log recording processing request from the second application to the first log recording means when the second log is recorded in the second storage means by the second log recording means. Thus, the first storage unit stores the first log and the second log,
An information processing apparatus characterized by the above. In response to a log reference request from a third application, the interface means includes log reference means for referring to the second log stored in the second storage means,
The interface means mediates only the log reference request of the second log and prohibits mediation of the log reference request of the first log;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1. An API program prepared in advance in an information processing apparatus that executes a processing request from a first application and causing the information processing apparatus to receive and execute a processing request from a second application using a predefined function,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Interface means for mediating a processing request from the second application;
First storage means for storing a first log associated with the processing operation of the first application;
Second storage means for storing a second log associated with the processing operation of the second application;
First log recording means for recording the first log in the first storage means;
Second log recording means for recording the second log in the second storage means by mediation of the interface means in response to a log recording processing request from the second application,
The API program, as the interface means for mediation processing request from the second application, to function in the information processing apparatus,
The interface means transmits a log recording processing request from the second application to the first log recording means when the second log is recorded in the second storage means by the second log recording means. Thus, the first storage unit stores the first log and the second log,
An API program characterized by The information processing apparatus includes:
In response to a log reference request from a third application, the interface means includes log reference means for referring to the second log stored in the second storage means,
The interface means mediates only the log reference request of the second log and prohibits mediation of the log reference request of the first log;
The API program according to claim 3. A processing request from the first application is executed, and a processing request from the second application is received and executed by a function defined in advance through an API prepared in advance.
Also,
First storage means for storing a first log associated with the processing operation of the first application; first log recording means for recording the first log in the first storage means;
A log environment providing method in an information processing apparatus having second storage means for storing a second log associated with the processing operation of the second application,
An interface procedure for mediating a log recording processing request from the second application by the API;
The second log, wherein in response to a recording processing request logs from the second application has the mediation of order the interface hand, a second log recording procedure for recording in the second storage means, and
The interface procedure transmits a log recording request from the second application to the first log recording means when the second log is recorded in the second storage means by the second log recording procedure. Thus, the first storage unit stores the first log and the second log,
A log environment providing method characterized by the above.

Images