JP2000066916A - Self-diagnostic device, its method and computer readable recording medium stored with self-diagnostic program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a device to execute the self-diagnosis of an information processor only when a circuit board in the information processor is exchanged or the like. SOLUTION: When a power supply is turned on, whether a self-diagnostic request exists or not, is checked (S1) and when the self-diagnostic processing request exists (S2: YES), the self-diagnostic processing is executed (S7). On the other hand, when the self-diagnostic processing request does not exist (S2: NO), current circuit constitution information is acquired and compared with stored circuit constitution information (S3, S4). When both the circuit constitution information data coincide with each other and it is judged that there is no change in the circuit constitution (S5: NO) as the result of comparison, the processing is ended. On the other hand, when both the circuit constitution information data are mutually different and it is judged that there is a change in the circuit constitution (S5: YES), the stored circuit constitution information is rewritten to the newly acquired circuit constitution information (S6) and self-dagnostic processing is executed (S7).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a self-diagnosis device which performs a self-diagnosis of an information processing device such as a printer controller when a circuit board of the information processing device is replaced.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a self-diagnosis is performed automatically when the power of a printer controller is turned on, for example.
A failure of a circuit board such as a storage circuit such as M or RAM or an I / O circuit can be detected.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional printer controller, a self-diagnosis is always performed when the power is turned on, so that the printer controller has many circuit boards (optional function). Has been pointed out, it takes a long time for self-diagnosis and the printer does not readily enter a usable state (ready). Further, when the power is frequently turned on, unnecessary self-diagnosis is repeated every time the power is turned on, and it is pointed out that the frequency of the self-diagnosis is too high.

[0004] In order to solve such a problem as much as possible, even if the power is turned on a plurality of times on the same day, a self-diagnosis is performed only when the power is turned on first on the day. The apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-292897. That is, in this information processing device,
The self-diagnosis is performed only once a day so that unnecessary self-diagnosis is not performed.

On the other hand, in contrast to the case where the power is frequently turned on as described above, in the case where the power is continuously used with power being supplied for a long time, the self-diagnosis is performed only at the time of turning on the power as in the related art. Therefore, self-diagnosis is not performed at all until the next power-on, and the frequency of self-diagnosis becomes extremely low, contrary to the above case, and a system failure (hardware failure) is detected early. However, there is a problem that appropriate measures cannot be taken.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems. For example, when a change in the circuit configuration of an information processing apparatus such as a printer controller is detected, the information processing apparatus is not provided with the information processing apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-diagnosis apparatus and method for performing self-diagnosis, and a computer-readable recording medium on which a self-diagnosis program is recorded.

[0007]

The present invention for achieving the above object is constituted as follows for each claim.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in an information processing apparatus capable of changing a circuit configuration, a storage unit that stores circuit configuration information, an obtaining unit that obtains circuit configuration information, and a storage unit that is stored in the storage unit. Comparing means for comparing the circuit configuration information obtained with the circuit configuration information newly obtained by the obtaining means, and detecting means for detecting a change in the circuit configuration in the information processing apparatus according to the comparison result by the comparing means And a control means for performing a self-diagnosis of the information processing apparatus when a change in circuit configuration is detected by the detection means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the self-diagnosis apparatus according to the first aspect, at the time of power-on, the circuit configuration information stored in the storage means and the circuit newly acquired by the acquisition means. The configuration information is compared with the configuration information, and when a change in the circuit configuration is detected, the information processing apparatus performs a self-diagnosis.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the self-diagnosis apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the information processing device is one of a printer and a printer controller.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a first step of obtaining circuit configuration information of an information processing apparatus and a step of comparing the circuit configuration information obtained in the first step with the stored circuit configuration information. A second step, a third step of detecting a change in the circuit configuration of the information processing apparatus according to a comparison result in the second step, and the information processing when the change in the circuit configuration is detected in the third step. And a fourth stage of self-diagnosis of the device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the circuit configuration information of the information processing apparatus is obtained, the obtained circuit configuration information is compared with the stored circuit configuration information, and the information processing apparatus is determined according to the comparison result. A computer-readable recording medium that records a self-diagnosis program, wherein the self-diagnosis program is characterized by detecting a change in the circuit configuration of the information processing apparatus and causing the information processing apparatus to perform a self-diagnosis when the change in the circuit configuration is detected.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention detects the presence or absence of a change in the circuit configuration from the history of self-diagnosis results, and executes self-diagnosis when a change is made. The information processing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied includes a printer device, a scanner device,
An AX device, a controller of a multifunctional peripheral device having these functions in combination, and the like are available.

According to the present invention, what kind of circuit configuration of the information processing apparatus to be self-diagnosed is, specifically, what kind of circuit board (or optional equipment) is connected to which connection port Is stored in a non-volatile storage device, and the circuit board (optional device) is replaced or the circuit board is replaced. Increase, decrease, that is, the change in the circuit configuration is detected from the circuit configuration information before and after that, when there is a change,
Perform self-diagnosis for the first time. Therefore, self-diagnosis is not basically performed except when a change occurs in the circuit configuration.

Thus, even if the power is repeatedly turned on in a short time, self-diagnosis is not performed each time, and unnecessary self-diagnosis is not performed. In addition, even if the circuit configuration is changed while the power is on even when the power supply is continuously used for a long time, self-diagnosis will be performed, and a system failure (hardware failure) will be detected at an early stage. Appropriate measures can be taken.

The outline of the present invention is as described above. Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a printer will be described as an example of the information processing apparatus. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control system of the printer.

The printer 10 is provided with a printer engine 20 for driving mechanical components of the printer 10.
The printer engine 20 includes the printer controller 3
Driven by 0.

The printer controller 30 basically includes a CPU 31, a built-in RAM 32, a built-in ROM 33,
VRAM 34, communication input / output I / F 35, operation panel 3
6. The printer engine I / F 37. If necessary, a hard disk 41 and an additional RA
Optional devices such as M42, additional ROM 43, and flash ROM 44 can be mounted. In addition,
In the printer 10, optional devices can be attached and detached while power is supplied.

The built-in system RAM 32a has a CPU 31
Is used as a work area or the like necessary for executing processing, and a built-in VRAM 32b is a development area for image data (bitmap data) to be sent to the printer engine 20 to print out an image formed based on the print data. Used as When the additional RAM 42 as an optional device is mounted, the memory area of the built-in RAM 32 can be expanded.

When an optional device expansion program ROM 43a is installed, other printer control language programs are stored in the ROM, so that other types of printers can print out.

The program ROM 33a contains the CPU 31
And a program for interpreting the printer control language of the printer controller 30 to be executed. The font ROM 33b stores font information and font data used to generate bitmap data required for printing processing.

When it is desired to use font data different from the font data stored in the font ROM 33b, the extended font ROM 43b is mounted as an optional device. Electronically rewritable flash R
When the OM 44 is mounted as an optional device, the memory area of the built-in RAM 32 can be further expanded.

The communication input / output I / F 35 is an interface for inputting and outputting information with an externally connected device such as a computer connected to the printer 10. The operation panel 36 is, for example, a panel on which keys for setting a print start / stop instruction and the number of prints are arranged.

The printer engine I / F 37 is an interface for exchanging information with the printer engine 20. The hard disk 41 is a storage device added as an optional device.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printer shown in FIG. 1 when the power is turned on. The CPU 31
When the power is turned on, it is checked whether or not a request for self-diagnosis is made (S1). If there is a request for self-diagnosis processing (S2: YES), the self-diagnosis processing of the printer 10 is executed (S7). ).

Although the above processing is not directly related to the present invention, it indicates that the self-diagnosis processing is executed when there is a compulsory self-diagnosis request (for example, a self-diagnosis request issued at regular intervals). ing.

On the other hand, if there is no request for the self-diagnosis processing (S2: NO), the CPU 31 acquires the current circuit configuration information and compares it with the circuit configuration information stored in the NVRAM 34. Note that the circuit configuration information in the present embodiment includes the hard disk 41, the additional RAM 42,
This information indicates that the optional devices of the additional ROM 43 and the flash ROM 44 have been replaced or the number of connected devices has been increased or decreased. In addition to this, if the communication input / output I / F 35 can be attached / detached, for example, the circuit configuration information also includes information on the exchange / attachment / removal (S3, S3).
4).

As a result of this comparison, the circuit configuration information matches,
If it is determined that there is no change in the circuit configuration (S5: N
O), the process is terminated, and if it is determined that there is a difference in the circuit configuration information and the circuit configuration is changed (S)
5: YES), the CPU 31 rewrites the circuit configuration information stored in the NVRAM 34 with the newly obtained circuit configuration information (S6), and executes a self-diagnosis process of the printer 10 (S7).

In the above processing, the circuit configuration information stored in the NVRAM 34 is updated and the self-diagnosis processing is executed only when there is a self-diagnosis request at power-on or when the circuit configuration information is different. Will be.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process for detecting a change in the circuit configuration of the printer controller 30 by a hardware interrupt. When detecting a change in the circuit configuration, the CPU 31 generates an interrupt signal and sets the circuit configuration information in a predefined area on the port (S11). Next, the CPU 31 reads the set circuit configuration information from the input port, and updates and stores the read circuit configuration information in place of the circuit configuration information stored in the NVRAM 34 (S12). And CPU3
1 requests self-diagnosis processing of the printer 10 (S1).
3).

In the process of this flowchart, when a change in the circuit configuration is detected by a hardware interrupt, an interrupt signal is generated to execute the self-diagnosis process.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process for detecting a change in the circuit configuration of the printer controller 30 based on port information. The CPU 31 reads out the circuit configuration information from the input port indicating the circuit configuration using a timer interrupt or the like generated at a fixed cycle (S21), and stores the read circuit configuration information in the circuit configuration information stored in the NVRAM 34. If there is no change in the circuit configuration information, the process ends (S22: NO).

On the other hand, if there is a change in the circuit configuration information (S2
2: YES), the read circuit configuration information is updated and stored in place of the circuit configuration information stored in the NVRAM 34 (S23). Then, the CPU 31 requests a self-diagnosis process of the printer 10 (S24).

In the processing of this flowchart, the circuit configuration information read from the input port and the stored circuit configuration information are compared by an interrupt of a fixed period of hardware, and if there is a change in the circuit configuration, self-diagnosis is performed. The process is executed.

However, when the above interrupt processing is performed, for example, replacement of the extension program ROM 43a,
When a board or the like without changing the circuit configuration is attached or detached, such as replacement of the additional RAM 42 of the same size,
Since there is no change in the circuit configuration, this cannot be detected. Therefore, it is necessary to perform a check process using software as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process suitable for a case where the printer controller 30 cannot detect a change in the circuit configuration by hardware. In such a case, similarly to the flowchart of FIG. 4, it is necessary to detect a change in the circuit configuration at a fixed cycle using a timer interrupt or the like by software.

Therefore, as a prerequisite, in order to detect a change in the circuit configuration by software, for example, in the case of the additional RAM 42, as shown in FIG. Is written, and this is managed in the management table. The value (circuit configuration information) written in the management table is compared with the circuit configuration information stored in the NVRAM 34 to detect a change in the circuit configuration. In the case of the extended program ROM 43a, as shown in FIG.
An identification code (or character string) uniquely defined is previously written in a fixed address area at the head of the extension program ROM 43a, and is managed in the extension option ROM information section management table. The identification code (circuit configuration information) written in the extended option ROM information section management table is compared with the circuit configuration information stored in the NVRAM 34 to detect a change in the circuit configuration.

As described above, if an arbitrary value or an identification code is written in the optional device, the extension program R
Even when a board or the like that does not involve a change in circuit configuration is replaced, such as when the OM 43a is replaced or the extension RAM 42 of the same size is replaced, the self-diagnosis process is executed in the same manner as when the circuit configuration is changed. Can be.

The processing of the flowchart of FIG. 5 will be described based on the above premise. First, the CPU 31 calculates the values of the exemplified management table (circuit configuration information of the additional RAM 42).
And the identification code (circuit configuration information of the extension program ROM 43a) written in the extended option ROM information section management table, and reads the circuit configuration information into N
The change of the circuit configuration is detected by comparing with the circuit configuration information stored in the VRAM 34 (S31). As a result of this comparison, if there is no change in the circuit configuration information, the process is terminated (S
32: NO).

On the other hand, if there is a change in the circuit configuration information (S3
2: YES), the read circuit configuration information is updated and stored in place of the circuit configuration information stored in the NVRAM 34 (S33). Then, the CPU 31 requests a self-diagnosis process of the printer 10 (S34).

In the process of this flowchart, the circuit configuration information written in the management table and the stored circuit configuration information are compared by interruption of a fixed period by software, and if there is a change in the circuit configuration, The diagnostic processing is executed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, circuit configuration information, that is, circuit configuration information indicating which type of circuit board (or optional device) is connected to which connection port, By storing the self-diagnosis execution history (including time) in the NVRAM, a circuit board (optional device) is replaced or the number of circuit boards is increased by hardware interrupt processing or software interrupt processing. The reduction, that is, the change in the circuit configuration is detected from the circuit configuration information before and after the change, and the self-diagnosis of the printer is executed only when there is a change.

As a result, a system failure (hardware failure) can be discovered at an early stage, and failure recovery can be performed appropriately and promptly. In addition, since the self-diagnosis is basically not performed except when the circuit configuration is changed, the self-diagnosis is not performed every time even if the power is repeatedly turned on in a short time, and unnecessary self-diagnosis is not performed. Therefore, the time until the printer becomes ready (ready) can be shortened, and the user can use the printer immediately after turning on the power.

In the above embodiment, the case where the technical concept of the present invention is applied to a printer has been described. However, as described at the beginning, a scanner device, a FAX device, and other functions are combined. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a controller of a multifunction peripheral device having the same.

[0045]

As apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects.

According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the self-diagnosis of the information processing apparatus is performed when a change in the circuit configuration is detected based on the circuit configuration information. Even if the power is repeatedly turned on at the time, self-diagnosis is not performed each time, and unnecessary self-diagnosis is not performed. In addition, even if the circuit configuration is changed while the power is on even when the power supply is continuously used for a long time, self-diagnosis will be performed, and a system failure (hardware failure) will be detected at an early stage. Appropriate measures can be taken.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of a printer.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the printer shown in FIG. 1 when power is turned on.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of detecting a change in the circuit configuration of a printer controller by a hardware interrupt;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of detecting a change in the circuit configuration of the printer controller based on port information.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process suitable for a case where a printer controller cannot detect a change in circuit configuration by hardware.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a technique for enabling a software to detect a change in circuit configuration.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a technique for enabling a software to detect a change in circuit configuration.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printer, 20 ... Printer engine, 30 ... Printer controller, 31 ... CPU, 34 ... NVRAM, 42 ... Additional RAM, 43 ... Additional ROM, 43a ... Extension program ROM.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus capable of changing a circuit configuration, comprising: storage means for storing circuit configuration information; acquisition means for acquiring circuit configuration information; and circuit configuration information stored in the storage means. A comparing unit that compares the circuit configuration information newly acquired by the acquiring unit; a detecting unit that detects a change in a circuit configuration in the information processing apparatus according to a comparison result by the comparing unit; Control means for performing a self-diagnosis of the information processing apparatus when a change in configuration is detected. 2. The self-diagnosis device according to claim 1, wherein at the time of power-on, the circuit configuration information stored in the storage unit is compared with the circuit configuration information newly acquired by the acquisition unit. When a change in the circuit configuration is detected, the information processing apparatus performs a self-diagnosis. 3. The self-diagnosis device according to claim 1, wherein the information processing device is one of a printer and a printer controller. 4. A first stage for acquiring circuit configuration information of the information processing apparatus, a second stage for comparing the circuit configuration information acquired in the first stage with stored circuit configuration information, A third step of detecting a change in the circuit configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the comparison result in the step, and a fourth step of performing a self-diagnosis of the information processing apparatus when a change in the circuit configuration is detected in the third step. And a self-diagnosis method. 5. Acquiring circuit configuration information of an information processing device, comparing the acquired circuit configuration information with stored circuit configuration information, and detecting a change in the circuit configuration of the information processing device according to the comparison result. A computer-readable recording medium recording a self-diagnosis program, wherein the information processing apparatus performs a self-diagnosis when a change in circuit configuration is detected.