JP2001071591A - Composite printing apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect the runaway of a controller automatically to restart the controller. SOLUTION: A printer controller 102, a copy controller 103 and a facsimile controller 104 issue a communication confirming command to a main controller 105 at an interval shorter than a predetermined time. If the main controller can not receive the communication confirming command at a predetermined time interval, a runaway monitor part 115 judges that the main controller gets into a runaway state to issue a restart signal through a restart part 116.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a multifunction printing apparatus in which, for example, one print engine is shared and used by a copier, a facsimile, a printer, and the like, and a control method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional composite printing apparatus. In FIG. 9, reference numeral 401 denotes a multifunction printer, 4
A printer controller 02 controls the printer function of the multifunction printer 401, analyzes print data sent from the host, and converts the data into video data to be drawn on print paper. A copy controller 403 controls the copy function of the multifunction printer 401, and converts a document image read from the scanner into video data to be drawn on a print sheet. Reference numeral 404 denotes a facsimile controller for controlling the facsimile function of the multi-function printer 401, which transmits original image data read from a scanner to a destination or converts received facsimile data into video data to be drawn on printing paper. Or
Here, the printer controller 402, the copy controller 403, and the facsimile controller 404 that create a print page and activate for printing are collectively called a print activation controller.

A main controller 405 controls contention control of the output from the printer controller 402, the output from the copy controller 403, the output from the facsimile controller 404, and controls the entire multi-function printer 401. The reference numeral 406 denotes video data from the main controller 405. An engine controller that controls printing by the print engine unit 407 when sent, a print engine unit 407 that prints on print paper under the control of the engine controller, 408 a paper cassette that stores print paper, and 409. Is a CPU for controlling the main controller 401, 410 is a ROM in which a control program of the CPU 409 is stored, 411 is a RAM which is a data storage area of the CPU 409, and 412 is a print start under the control of the CPU 409. Controller Command I / O, 413 for transmitting and receiving commands and controller is CPU
An engine command I / O 41 for transmitting / receiving a command to / from the engine controller 406 under the control of 409
4 determines which of the print start controllers to perform printing under the control of the CPU 409, and determines the completed print start controller and the engine controller 40.
6 is a selector for selectively connecting a video signal and a video timing signal between the video signal and the video signal.

In FIG. 9, a main controller 405
Transmission and reception of commands between the printer and the print activation controller are performed via a controller command I / O 412. When a command is sent from the print activation controller, the command is received by the controller command I / O 412 and the
Then, an interrupt is generated for 9 and the command is processed. C to send a command to the print activation controller
The PU 409 sends data for the command to the controller command I / O 412 and transmits it.

[0005] Transmission and reception of commands between the main controller 405 and the engine controller 406 are performed via an engine command I / O 413. When a command is sent from the engine controller 405, the command is received by the engine command I / O 413, an interrupt is generated for the CPU 409, and the command is processed. When sending a command to the engine controller 405, the CPU
409 sends and transmits data for the command to the engine command I / O 413.

Next, print data is sent from the host, and the printer controller 402 receives and analyzes the data.
The operation when printing is performed normally will be described. When print data is sent from the host, the printer controller 402 analyzes the data in the order in which it was received, and creates video data. When one page of video data is completed, an engine acquisition request command is sent to the main controller 405 to acquire the right to use the engine.

On the main controller 405 side, the CPU 409 processes the received command. When the CPU 409 knows that the command is an engine acquisition request command, it checks which print activation controller has sent the command. Here, the printer controller 402 is used. Then, the CPU 409 checks whether the engine is in the engine release state. If the engine is not in the engine release state (ie, the engine is acquired by another print activation controller), the CPU 409 returns an engine acquisition NG command to the printer controller 402 and ends the processing. I do. If the engine is in the released state, the engine is in the acquired state, the selector 414 is controlled to connect the video signal and the video timing signal between the printer controller 402 and the engine controller 406, and the engine acquisition OK command is returned to the printer controller 402 for processing. To end. The video signal is a signal for transmitting video data representing a bitmap of an image to be printed on a print sheet, and the video timing signal is a signal for maintaining a timing so that the video signal can be successfully printed on the print sheet. In this example, the engine controller 10 determines a print request signal for starting printing from the print start controller as a video timing signal and a timing at which a video signal is transmitted in response to the print request signal.
6 has a print synchronization signal for notifying the print start controller.

[0008] The subsequent process of transferring video data from the printer controller 402 to the engine controller 413 is performed by hardware (wired logic) using a video timing signal.
The CPU 409 of No. 05 is not involved at all.

When the printer controller 402 receives the engine acquisition OK command and knows that the right to use the engine has been obtained, the printer controller 402 sends a print request signal via the selector 414 in the main controller 405 to output a page. Send to controller 406. Upon receiving the print request signal, the engine controller 406 sends a print synchronization signal for receiving a video signal if the print engine unit 407 can perform printing. Upon receiving the print synchronization signal, the printer controller 402 transmits a video signal at a predetermined timing. Upon receiving the video signal, engine controller 406 performs control for printing the image by print engine unit 407.

When printing starts under the control of the engine controller 406, the print engine unit 407
08 and print paper is started. And
When printing of this page is completed, the engine controller 406
Controls the print engine unit 407 to discharge the printed printing paper. When the transmission of the video signal for one page is completed, the printer controller 402 sends an engine release request command to the main controller 405, and once requests the release of the engine.

The CPU 409 of the main controller 405
Receives the engine release request command, it checks which print activation controller has sent the command. Then, the CPU 409 checks whether or not the print start controller is currently acquiring an engine, and returns an engine release NG command to the print start controller if another print start controller other than the print start controller has acquired an engine. To end the processing. If the print start controller is currently acquiring the engine, the engine is released, and the selector 414 is controlled to control the print start controller and the engine controller 40.
Then, the video signal and the video timing signal are disconnected from the print start controller 6 and an engine acquisition OK command is returned to the print start controller, thereby ending the processing. Here, the print start controller is the printer controller 402.
It is.

[0012] Then, in the case of continuously outputting pages, an engine acquisition request command is transmitted again to try to acquire the engine use right.

On the other hand, while the printer controller 402 has acquired the right to use the engine, the other print activation controllers cannot acquire the right to use the engine. Specifically, from receiving the engine acquisition request command from the printer controller 402 to transmitting the engine release request command, the printer controller 402 has the right to use the engine. Therefore, even if an engine acquisition request command is sent from the copy controller 403 or the facsimile controller 404 during this time, the CPU 409 of the main controller 405 returns an engine acquisition NG command. The copy controller 403 and the facsimile controller 404 generate a page to be output and send an engine acquisition request command, and then send an engine acquisition NG.
When a command is received, an operation wait display (for example, “wait for copy output” or “wait for facsimile output” on the operation panel)
, And sends an engine acquisition request command periodically (here, every two seconds) until the right to use the engine can be acquired, and waits.

The same operation is performed when another print activation controller other than the printer controller 402 acquires the right to use the engine.

[0015]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, if any one of the print activation controllers abnormally operates due to heat generation, a mistake in a program, or the like,
In the case of so-called runaway, printing from the print activation controller cannot be performed. To cope with such a problem, there is a multifunction printer having a restart switch of each print start controller. In this case, however, an operation must be performed such that someone presses the restart switch. Therefore, a plurality of users who want to print using the print start controller have to wait for useless time until someone presses the restart switch to restart the print start controller.

In the above conventional example, if one of the print activation controllers runs out of control while acquiring the right to use the engine, the other print activation controllers cannot use the engine, and the entire multifunction printer hangs up. Resulting in. In that case, it was necessary for somebody to restart the multifunction printer by turning off / on the power or pressing the reset switch. Therefore, a plurality of users who want to use the composite printing apparatus have to wait for a wasteful time until someone restarts the apparatus by turning off / on the power or pressing a reset switch and starts up the composite printing apparatus. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to detect when a control unit corresponding to any one of image signal sources operates abnormally, and to detect a malfunction of a user. An object of the present invention is to provide a composite printing apparatus having a mechanism for restarting without intervention.

Further, when a control unit using a printing means such as a print engine runs away, the runaway is detected, the print engine is initialized and released, and the runaway control unit is restarted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a composite printing apparatus in which hang-up is prevented.

[0019]

To achieve the above object, the present invention has the following arrangement. That is, a printing unit that prints an image based on an image signal, a control unit that performs a control procedure for the printing unit, an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality in a control procedure performed by the signal source control unit, and the abnormality detection unit And restarting means for restarting the control means when an abnormality is detected.

Preferably, a plurality of control means are provided corresponding to a plurality of image signal sources, and the abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality in a control procedure by any of the plurality of control means, Restarts the control means in which the abnormality is detected.

Preferably, one of the plurality of control means occupies the printing means when printing is performed based on an image signal from a corresponding signal source, and the restart means includes a plurality of control means. The printing means occupied by one of the above is released by restarting.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises initialization means for initializing a state of the printing means when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detecting means.

Preferably, the arbitration unit further includes an arbitration unit that arbitrates competition for the printing unit by the plurality of control units for each of the image signal sources, and the abnormality detection unit is included in the arbitration unit.

Preferably, the abnormality detecting means is included in one of the plurality of control means.

Preferably, the abnormality detection means is included in the plurality of control means, and each abnormality detection means detects each other's abnormality.

Preferably, said plurality of control means include:
At least one of first control means using a host device as an image signal source, second control means using an image scanner as an image signal source, and third control means using a telephone line as an image signal source is included. .

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment] A composite printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3 to 6. FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the multifunction printer 101 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a command / signal sequence in the multifunction printer, and FIGS. 3 to 6 are flowcharts showing the operation.

In FIG. 1, a printer controller 10
Reference numeral 2 controls the printer function of the multifunction printer 101, analyzes print data sent from the host, and converts the data into video data for drawing on printing paper. The copy controller 103 controls the copy function of the multifunction printer 101, and converts an image of a document read from the scanner into video data to be drawn on printing paper. Although the scanner is connected to the outside of the multifunction printer in FIG. 1, the scanner may be included in the multifunction printer. The facsimile controller 104 controls the facsimile function of the multifunction printing apparatus 101, transmits image data of the original Hanawa image read from the scanner to the destination, and converts received facsimile data into video data to be drawn on a print sheet. I do. Here, the printer controller 102, the copy controller 103, and the facsimile controller 104, which create a print page, perform control for printing image data from each image signal source, and activate a print engine, are collectively referred to as print activation. I will call it a controller. These print start controllers are programmable controllers in the present embodiment, and execute control procedures according to given programs and parameters. Therefore, if a program or parameter is read as an incorrect value different from the original value, or if the synchronization that should be maintained between logical blocks in each print start controller is lost, the intended An abnormal operation deviating from the operation is caused, which leads to a so-called runaway state.

The main controller 105 controls the output from the printer controller 102 and the copy controller 10.
3 and the output from the facsimile controller 104, and controls the entire multifunction printer 101. The engine controller 106 controls printing by the print engine unit 107 when video data is sent from the main controller 105. The print engine unit 107 prints on print paper under the control of the engine controller. The paper cassette 108 stores printing paper. The CPU 109 controls the main controller 101. The ROM 110 has a CPU 1
09 is stored. RAM1
Reference numeral 11 is used as a data storage area of the CPU 109. The controller command I / O 112 is
9, the command is transmitted / received to / from the print activation controller. Engine command I / O 113 is CPU
Under the control of 109, transmission and reception of commands with the engine controller 106 are performed. The selector 114 is the CPU 1
In step 09, which of the print start controllers is to be printed is determined, and the video signal and the video timing signal between the determined print start controller and the engine controller 106 are selectively connected. Runaway monitor 115 is provided by printer controller 10.
2. Monitor runaway of copy controller 103 and facsimile controller 104. 116 is a runaway monitoring unit 11
Reference numeral 5 denotes a restart unit for restarting the runaway print start controller under the control of the CPU 109 when a runaway is detected.

In FIG. 1, the main controller 109
Monitors the runaway of the printer controller 102, copy controller 103, and facsimile controller 104. This runaway monitoring is performed by using a timer.
And these are called timer 1, timer 2 and timer 3, respectively. Timer 1 monitors the runaway of the printer controller 102, Timer 2 monitors the runaway of the copy controller 103, and Timer 3 monitors the runaway of the facsimile controller 104. If a communication confirmation command is not sent from each print activation controller within a predetermined time (here, every 10 seconds) specified by a timer, the timer times out and a runaway of each print activation controller is detected. I have. If the communication confirmation command is sent within a certain time, the timer for monitoring the print activation controller to which the command has been sent is restarted. Each print activation controller is designed to transmit a communication confirmation command within the fixed time unless the program of the respective print activation controller enters an infinite loop or runs out of control.

Transmission and reception of commands between the main controller 105 and the print start controller are performed via the controller command I / O 112. When a command is sent from the print start controller, the command is received by the controller command I / O 112, an interrupt is generated for the CPU 109, and the command is processed. When sending a command to the print activation controller, the CPU 109 sends data for the command to the controller command I / O 112 and sends it.

Transmission and reception of commands between the main controller 105 and the engine controller 106 are performed via the engine command I / O 113. When a command is sent from the engine controller 105, the command is received by the engine command I / O 113, an interrupt is generated for the CPU 109, and the command is processed. When sending a command to the engine controller 105, the CPU
109 sends data for the command to the engine command I / O 113 and transmits it.

<Print Control Procedure> Next, a procedure for printing data received by the print activation controller by the multifunction printer 101 will be described.

Each print activation controller creates video data based on the received data. For example, when the printer controller 102 receives print data from a host, the printer controller 102 analyzes the received print data and creates video data.
When the copy controller 103 receives image data from the image scanner, it converts the image data into video data in a format suitable for printing. When the facsimile controller 104 receives facsimile data from the other facsimile, it decrypts the data and converts it into video data.

When one page of video data is completed, an engine acquisition request command is sent to the main controller 105 to acquire the right to use the engine. FIG. 7 shows a print control procedure by the print activation controller that has received the data.

In FIG. 7, upon receiving data such as print data, facsimile data, and image data, the print activation controller converts the received data into video data (step S601) and terminates the data reception, or This is repeated until the generation of video data for one page is completed (step S602). If one page of video data has been generated, or if the video data has been generated to the end even if it is less than one page, an engine acquisition command is issued to the main controller 105. When the response is received (step S604) and the acquisition is OK (step S605-YES), the generated 1
The video signal for the page is sent to the main controller 105 (step S606). When one page of video data has been sent, an engine release command is issued to the main controller 105 (step S607). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not all the received data has been transmitted (step S608), and if the transmission has been completed, the process ends.

On the other hand, in step S605, the acquired NG
When the command is received, it is displayed that the acquisition of the engine has failed (step S609), and after waiting for a predetermined time (step S610), the engine acquisition command is issued again. Printing is performed as described above.

FIG. 8 shows a procedure for issuing a communication confirmation command from the print start controller. Each print activation controller has a timer for communication confirmation, and an initial value is set to the timer when power is turned on. When the timer expires, the procedure of FIG. 8 is executed. First, a communication confirmation command is issued to the main controller (step S611), and the expired timer is reset (step S612). The value of the timer is 1 in this embodiment.
It is 0 seconds or less. Thus, as long as the print start controller is operating normally, the communication confirmation command is issued to the main controller at a predetermined time interval of 10 seconds.

FIG. 3 shows a processing procedure by the main controller 105 that has received the engine acquisition request command.

On the main controller 105 side, the CPU 109 processes the received command. When the CPU 109 knows that the command is an engine acquisition request command (step S301), it checks which print activation controller has sent the command (step S302).
Here, the printer controller 102 is assumed. Then, the CPU 109 checks whether or not the engine is currently in the engine release state. If the engine is not in the engine release state, that is, if the engine is acquired by another print activation controller (step S303-NO), the print activation of the issuer of the engine acquisition request is started. An engine acquisition NG command is returned to the printer controller 102 (step S307), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if the engine is in the engine release state (YES in step S303), the engine is brought into the engine acquisition state (step S304), and the selector 114 is controlled so that the printer controller 102, which is the print activation controller that issued the engine acquisition request, and the engine. A video signal and a video timing signal are connected to the controller 106 (step S305), and an engine acquisition OK command is returned to the printer controller 102 (step S306).
The process ends. The video signal is a signal for transmitting video data representing a bitmap of an image to be printed on a print sheet, and the video timing signal is a signal for maintaining a timing so that the video signal can be successfully printed on the print sheet. In the present embodiment, as the video timing signal, a print request signal for starting printing from the print start controller and a print synchronization signal for notifying the print start controller of the timing at which the video signal is transmitted in response to the print request signal from the engine controller 106. And

The subsequent processing of transferring video data from the printer controller 102 to the engine controller 113 is performed by wired logic using a video timing signal.
U109 is not involved.

When the printer controller 102 receives the engine acquisition OK command and knows that the right to use the engine has been obtained, the printer controller 102 sends a print request signal via the selector 114 in the main controller 105 to output a page. Send to controller 106. Upon receiving the print request signal, the engine controller 106 sends a print synchronization signal for receiving a video signal if the print engine 107 can perform printing. Upon receiving the print synchronization signal, the printer controller 102 transmits a video signal at a predetermined timing. When the engine controller 106 receives the video signal, it performs control for printing the image by the print engine unit 107. When printing starts under the control of the engine controller 106, the print engine unit 107 takes in printing paper from the paper cassette 108 and starts printing. When printing of this page is completed, the engine controller 106 prints the print engine unit 1
In step S07, the printed printing paper is discharged. When the transmission of the video signal for one page is completed, the printer controller 102 sends an engine release request command to the main controller 105, and once requests the release of the engine.

FIG. 4 shows a processing procedure by the main controller 105 that has received the engine release request command.

CPU 109 of main controller 105
Receives the engine release request command (step S
311), it is checked from which print start controller the print start controller is sent (step S312). And CPU1
In step 09, it is checked whether any of the print activation controllers has acquired an engine. If a print activation controller other than the print activation controller that has issued the engine release request has acquired an engine, the process proceeds to step S313.
NO), an engine release NG command is returned to the print activation controller that issued the engine release request (step S).
317) End the process. If the print activation controller that has issued the engine release request has acquired the engine at present (step S313-YES), the engine is released (step S314), and the selector 114 is controlled to print the source of the engine release request. The video signal and the video timing signal between the activation controller and the engine controller 106 are disconnected (step S31).
5) Return an engine acquisition OK command to the print activation controller (step S316) and end the process.
Here, the print activation controller that has issued the engine release request is the printer controller 102. And
If pages are to be output continuously, an engine acquisition request command is transmitted again to try to acquire the engine use right.

As described above, the printer controller 102
While the printer has acquired the right to use the engine, the other print activation controller cannot acquire the right to use the engine. Specifically, the printer controller 102 has the right to use the engine from receiving the engine acquisition request command from the printer controller 102 to transmitting the engine release request command. Accordingly, during this time, the copy controller 103 and the facsimile controller 10
4, the CPU 109 of the main controller 105 returns an engine acquisition NG command. When the copy controller 103 or the facsimile controller 104 generates a page to be output and receives an engine acquisition NG command after sending an engine acquisition request command, an operation waiting display (for example, “copy output waiting” or “facsimile output waiting” on the operation panel). , Etc.), and sends an engine acquisition request command periodically (here, every two seconds) until the right to use the engine is acquired, and waits.

The same operation is performed when a print activation controller other than the printer controller 102 acquires the right to use the engine.

Next, the operation when the main controller 105 receives a communication confirmation command from the print start controller will be described. All print activation controllers are
While the control program of each print activation controller is operating normally, the main controller 1
05 to transmit a communication confirmation command. FIG. 5 shows a processing procedure of the main controller 105 when receiving the communication confirmation command.

CPU 109 of main controller 105
Receives the communication confirmation command (step S32).
1) It is checked which print activation controller has sent the print start controller (step S322). Printer controller 1
02 (step S323-
YES), the timer 1 in the runaway monitoring unit 115 is restarted (step S325), and a communication confirmation OK command is sent to the printer controller 102 (step S326). If it has been sent from the copy controller 103 (step S324-YES), the timer 2 is restarted (step S327), and a communication confirmation OK command is sent to the copy controller 103 (step S328). If it has been sent from the facsimile controller 104 (step S324-NO), the timer 3 is restarted (step S329), and a communication confirmation OK command is sent to the facsimile controller 104 (step S330).

Next, an operation when a control program in a certain print activation controller runs away will be described. If the print start controller program enters an infinite loop or runs away, the main controller 1
05 cannot send a communication confirmation command.
In the main controller 105, if a communication confirmation command is not sent from each print activation controller at intervals within a fixed time (here, 10 seconds) specified by a timer in the runaway monitoring unit, the timer times out, and the runaway monitoring unit 115 Runaway of each print start controller is detected and C
The notification is sent to the PU 109. FIG. 5 shows a processing procedure by the main controller 105 when any one of the timers 1 to 3 in each print activation controller has expired.

Upon receiving the runaway detection notification (step S331), the CPU 109 checks which timer for the print activation controller has expired (step S3).
32). If it is the timer 1 for the printer controller 102 (step S333-YES), the restart unit 11
7 and transmits a restart signal to the printer controller 102 (step S335).
Then, the timer 1 is restarted (step S336). If the timer is for the copy controller 103 (step S334-YES), a restart signal is transmitted to the copy controller 103 (step S337), and the timer 2 is restarted (step S338). If it is the timer 3 for the facsimile controller 104 (step S334)
-NO), a restart signal is transmitted to the facsimile controller 104 (step S339), and the timer 3 is restarted (step S340).

Upon receiving the restart signal, each print start controller is reset and restarts from the initial state. When a reset is applied, internal initialization processing is performed,
The control program operates normally. Therefore, the process of FIG. 8 which has been stopped in the runaway state is restarted, and the communication confirmation command is transmitted to the main controller 105 at intervals of 10 seconds or less.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a communication pattern between controllers in the control procedure described above. In the figure, at timing 201, communication confirmation between each print start controller and the main controller is normally performed. The printer controller issues an engine acquisition request command 202
Is issued, the subsequent engine acquisition request command 20
For 5, the engine acquisition NG command is returned. When the printer controller requests the engine release (command 207), and then the printer controller goes out of control,
The printer controller has not issued the communication confirmation command for a predetermined time, here 10 seconds, since the last communication confirmation command was confirmed. This is confirmed at a timing 208 a predetermined time after the last communication confirmation command is confirmed, and a restart command 209 is sent to the printer controller. This eliminates the runaway state of the printer controller.

As described above, the main controller monitors whether each print activation controller is operating normally or abnormally, and when an abnormality occurs, resets the abnormal print activation controller from the initial state. Reboot. Thus, it is possible to eliminate the abnormal state and perform printing without the intervention of an operator or the like.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of an example of the composite printing apparatus 101 to which the present invention is applied. The apparatus shown in FIG. 16 includes an image scanner in the apparatus main body. In FIG. 16, a printer controller 102, a copy controller 103, a facsimile controller 104, and a main controller 105 are realized by a circuit mounted on a built-in board. This board is provided with a connector for a host and a telephone line (not shown). Scanner 1
The image data read by 25 is also passed as an electric signal to a copy controller or a facsimile controller. The operation panel 12 is located above the scanner unit 125.
4 is displayed on the operation panel 124 when a print activation controller fails to acquire an engine. Documents operated by the scanner are stacked on the document discharge tray 122. Printing paper is placed in the paper cassette 108. The paper is transported by the engine 10
7 to form an image, and the image is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 123. The entire apparatus is driven by power supplied from the power supply unit 121. Note that the engine unit 107
The engine may be of any type, such as an inkjet type or an electrophotographic type.

[Second Embodiment] A multifunction printing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The apparatus according to the present embodiment also monitors the abnormal operation of the engine controller as compared with the apparatus according to the first embodiment. The difference is that if you have the right, the engine is also initialized.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of the multifunction printer according to the second embodiment, FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a command / signal sequence thereof, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the main controller when receiving a communication confirmation command from the print start controller. motion,
13 and 14 are flowcharts showing the operation of the main controller when the timer expires in the runaway monitoring unit of the print activation controller. 3, 4, 7, and 8 in the first embodiment are the same in the present embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 10, reference numerals 501 to 516 represent
Since they are the same as the respective parts denoted by reference numerals 101 to 116 in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted. The engine initialization unit 517
When runaway monitor 515 detects a runaway, CPU 509
Transmits an engine initialization signal to the engine controller 506 to initialize the print engine unit 507 under the control of.

In FIG. 11, the main controller 50
Reference numeral 9 denotes a communication confirmation command 11 for monitoring runaway of the printer controller 502, copy controller 503, facsimile controller 504, and engine controller 506.
01 to 1194 are received.
This runaway monitoring is performed using a timer. There are four timers for each controller, and they are referred to as timers 1 to 4 herein. The timer 1 monitors the runaway of the printer controller 502, the timer 2 monitors the runaway of the copy controller 503, the timer 3 monitors the runaway of the facsimile controller 504, and the timer 4 monitors the runaway of the engine controller 506.

If a communication confirmation command is not sent from each controller within a predetermined time (here, every 10 seconds) specified by a timer, the timer times out and a runaway of each controller is detected. . If the communication confirmation command is sent within a certain period of time, the controller monitoring timer to which the command has been sent is restarted. Each controller is designed to transmit a communication confirmation command within the fixed time unless the program of the controller enters an infinite loop or runs out of control.

In FIG. 11, the communication confirmation from the printer controller is not performed at the timing 901.
The runaway has been detected. Therefore, a restart signal is sent to the printer controller, and since the printer controller has acquired the right to use the engine at that time, an engine initialization signal is sent to the engine controller to initialize the engine. I have. The operation when printing is normally performed from the print start controller is the same as that in the first embodiment.

Next, the operation when a communication confirmation command is received from the print activation controller will be described. All print activation controllers and engine controllers 506
Is the main controller 50 at intervals of 10 seconds or less while the control program in each controller is operating normally.
5 to transmit a communication confirmation command.
FIG. 12 shows a processing procedure by the main controller 505 at that time.

CPU 509 of main controller 505
Receives the communication confirmation command (step S70).
1), it is checked from which controller it was sent (step S702). Printer controller 50
2 (step S703-Y).
ES) The timer 1 in the runaway monitoring unit 515 is restarted (step S706), and a communication confirmation OK command is sent to the printer controller 502 (step S707). If it has been sent from the copy controller 503 (step S704-YES), the timer 2 is restarted (step S704).
708), and sends a communication confirmation OK command to the copy controller 503 (step S709). If it is sent from the facsimile controller 504 (step S705-YES), the timer 3 is restarted (step S7).
10), communication confirmation O to facsimile controller 504
A K command is sent (step S711). If it has been sent from the engine controller 506 (step S705-NO), the timer 4 is restarted (step S71).
2) Send a communication confirmation OK command to the engine controller 506 (step S713).

Next, the operation when the control program in the printer controller 502 runs out of control will be described. 13 and 14 show the main controller 505 in that case.
Is a processing procedure.

In the main controller 505, the timer in the runaway monitoring unit 515 monitors whether all the controllers are out of control. If a communication confirmation command is not sent within 10 seconds from each controller, one of the timers 1 to 4 in the runaway monitoring unit 515 times out,
It is detected that one of the controllers has run out of control (step S721). The control program of each controller is designed to always send a communication confirmation command to the main controller 505 at intervals of 10 seconds or less during normal operation. That is, when the control program of each controller goes out of control, the communication confirmation command cannot be transmitted.

When runaway monitor 515 detects runaway of any controller, it notifies CPU 509. CPU
Upon receiving the notification, 509 checks which controller timer has expired (step S72).
2). When it is determined that the printer controller 502 has gone out of control (step S723-YES), it is checked whether the printer controller 502 has acquired an engine. If the printer controller 502 has not acquired an engine (step S724-NO), it controls the restart unit 516 to transmit a restart signal to the printer controller 502 (step S729) and controls the runaway monitoring unit 515. Then, the timer 1 is restarted (step S730). If the printer controller 502 has acquired the engine (step S724-YE).
S), the engine is released (step S726), and the selector 514 is controlled to disconnect the printer controller 502 from the engine controller 506 (step S726). Further, it controls the engine initialization unit 517 to transmit an engine initialization signal to the engine controller 506 (step S727). The runaway monitoring unit 515 is controlled to restart the timer 4 (step S728), and the restart unit 516 is controlled to control the printer controller 50.
Then, a restart signal is transmitted to the timer 2 (step S729), and the runaway monitoring unit 515 is controlled to restart the timer 1 (step S730). Here, the reason why the engine initialization signal is also sent to the engine controller 506 that is not running away is that if the connection of the selector 514 is disconnected while the video signal is being sent from the printer controller 502, then the print start controller This is because there is a possibility that normal processing cannot be performed when the print request signal is sent.

Upon receiving the engine initialization signal, the engine controller 506 initializes the inside of the engine controller 506 and the print engine unit. Upon receiving the restart signal, the printer controller 502 is reset and restarts (reboots). When the printer controller 502 is reset, the internal initialization processing is performed, and the video signal data of the page being transmitted to the destination is also discarded. Therefore, the engine acquisition request command is not sent to the main controller 505 until print data is newly sent from the host and video data of a new page is prepared for one page.

When the control program in the copy controller 503 goes out of control, the main controller 505 operates in the same manner as when the printer controller 502 goes out of control. Only the operation flow of steps S723 to S730 is replaced with the operation flow of steps S731 to S738.

When the control program in the facsimile controller 504 goes out of control, the operation is the same as when the printer controller 502 goes out of control. The operation flow of steps S323 to S330 is different from that of steps S739 to S739.
Only the operation flow of S746 is replaced.

Next, the operation when the control program in the engine controller 506 runs away will be described. When runaway monitoring section 515 detects runaway of any controller, it notifies CPU 509. Upon receiving the notification, the CPU 509 checks which timer of the controller has timed out (step S722), and knows that the engine controller 506 has run away (step S7).
39-NO), it is checked whether or not any of the print activation controllers has acquired the engine. If none of the print activation controllers has acquired the engine (that is, the engine is in the released state) (step S747-NO),
It controls the engine initialization unit 517 to transmit an engine initialization signal to the engine controller 506 (step S7).
55), the runaway monitoring unit 515 is controlled to restart the timer 4 (step S756). If any of the print activation controllers is acquiring the engine (step S747-YES), the print activation controller acquiring the engine is checked (step S748), the engine is released (step S749), and the selector 514 is controlled. And the print start controller and the engine controller 50
6 is disconnected (step S750. The engine controller 50 is further controlled by controlling the engine initialization unit 517.
6 is transmitted (step S75).
1) Control the runaway monitoring unit 515 to restart the timer 4. In step S752, the restart unit 516 is controlled to transmit a restart signal to the print activation controller having acquired the right to use the engine (step S753).
It controls the runaway monitoring unit 515 to restart the timer for the print activation controller (step S754).

As described above, the states of the print start controller and the engine controller are monitored, and when a runaway state occurs, the controller is initialized and restarted. At the same time, if the runaway controller uses the engine, the engine unit is also initialized and restarted. By doing so, it is possible to prevent a hang-up of the entire composite printing apparatus, and to use the engine without waiting for a long time by another print activation controller in the engine acquisition waiting state. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of a person going to the multifunction printer and restarting the multifunction printer,
It is possible to reduce wasted time until a person restarts.

[Third Embodiment] A multifunction printer according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

In FIG. 15, reference numerals 801 to 804 are the same as those of the reference numerals 501 to 504 in the second embodiment. The image processing unit 803 includes a copy controller 803
And performs image processing to create video data to be drawn on printing paper. Reference numerals 806 to 817 are the same as those of the reference numerals 506 to 517 in the second embodiment.
The initialization signal detection unit 818 controls the engine controller 80
6 restarts the copy controller 803 (reboot)
When a copy initialization signal is sent to the CPU 809, the CPU 809 detects the signal and resets the CPU 809.

In FIG. 15, the composite printing apparatus 801 is
In the standard, only a copy function is provided, and a printer function and a facsimile function can be optionally added as needed. To add a printer function, the printer controller 802 is attached to the multifunction printer 801. To add a facsimile function, the facsimile controller 804 is attached to the multifunction printer 801.

In the second embodiment, the main controller monitors the runaway of the printer controller, the copy controller, the facsimile controller, and the engine controller, and when the runaway of any of the controllers is detected, a restart signal or an initialization signal is sent to the associated controller. Had to restart those controllers.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, there is no main controller, and the copy controller 803 is replaced by the printer controller 802 and the facsimile controller 80.
4. Monitor the engine controller 806 for runaway. When a runaway of any controller is detected, a restart signal or initialization signal is sent to the related controller,
Restart those controllers. The runaway of the copy controller 803 is caused by the engine controller 806.
When the engine controller 806 detects a runaway of the copy controller 803, the engine controller 806 sends a copy initialization signal to the copy controller 803 to restart (reboot) the copy controller 803. The copy controller 803 outputs a copy initialization signal to the initialization signal detection unit 81.
8 to detect. The initialization signal detection unit 818 is a CPU 809
And reboot (reboot).

As described above, the runaway monitoring unit is provided in the copy controller and the engine controller, and monitors the state of each other. The monitoring method is the same as that described in the first and second embodiments. The monitored side transmits a communication confirmation command to the monitored side at intervals of a predetermined time, and the monitored side transmits the communication confirmation command within a predetermined time. The normal operation is confirmed by receiving the communication confirmation command. If the communication confirmation command is not received within the predetermined time, it is determined that the monitored controller has runaway, and the controller that has runaway is initialized as described in the first and second embodiments.

As described above, in addition to providing the same effect as that of the first or second embodiment, runaway can be monitored in the present embodiment even without the main controller. Also, by monitoring each other, even if the controller itself monitoring runaway runs away, it is possible to detect the runaway and restart.

In the above-described first to third embodiments, an example has been described in which a runaway of a printer controller, a copy controller, a facsimile controller, and an engine controller is monitored, but other controllers (for example, a scanner controller or the like) are monitored. It may be something that monitors runaway.

In the first or second embodiment, an example is shown in which the main controller monitors runaway of a plurality of print activation controllers. In the third embodiment, the copy controller runs out of control of another controller. Is shown, and the engine controller monitors the runaway of the copy controller. However, any controller in the multifunction printer may monitor which controller.

[0082]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, an object of the present invention is to realize the functions of the above-described embodiment by using FIG. 3 to FIG. 8 or FIG.
A storage medium (or recording medium) on which the program code of the procedure 4 is recorded is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
U) is also achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. By executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an operating system (OS) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. This also includes a case where some or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion card inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. This also includes the case where the CPU provided in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0086]

As described above, according to the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in any of the print activation controllers in the multifunction printer, the abnormality is detected without any human intervention, and the abnormality is detected. The generated print activation controller can be restarted and restored. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of a person going to the multifunction printer and restarting the multifunction printer or the print start controller, and it is possible to reduce wasted time until the user restarts.

Further, if an abnormality occurs while any of the print activation controllers in the multifunction printer is using the engine, the abnormality is detected without human intervention, and the engine is released and initialized. At the same time, the print start controller in which the abnormality has occurred can be restarted to recover the multifunction printer. This prevents hang-up of the entire apparatus, and allows the other print start controllers in the engine acquisition waiting state to use the engine without waiting for a long time. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of a person going to the multifunction printer and restarting the multifunction printer, and it is possible to reduce wasted time until the user restarts the multifunction printer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction printer according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a command / signal sequence according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction printer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction printer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction printer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction printer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction printer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the multifunction printer according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional composite printing apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a multifunction printer according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a command / signal sequence according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction printer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction printer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction printer according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a print control apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of an example of the composite printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 multifunction printer 102 printer controller 103 copy controller 104 facsimile controller 105 main controller 106 engine controller 107 print engine unit 108 paper cassette 109 CPU 110 ROM 111 RAM 112 controller command I / O 113 engine command I / O 114 selector 115 runaway monitoring unit 116 Restart unit 517 Engine initialization unit 805 Image processing unit 818 Initialization signal detection unit

Claims (13)

[Claims] A printing unit that prints an image based on an image signal; a control unit that executes a control procedure for the printing unit; an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality in a control procedure performed by the signal source control unit; And a restarting means for restarting the control means when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detecting means. A plurality of control means corresponding to a plurality of image signal sources; an abnormality detection means detecting an abnormality in a control procedure performed by one of the plurality of control means; The composite printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit that has detected the abnormality is restarted. 3. One of the plurality of control units occupies the printing unit when printing is performed based on an image signal from a corresponding signal source, and the restart unit includes one of the plurality of control units. 3. The multifunction printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing unit occupied by the printer is released by a restart. 4. The multifunction printer according to claim 1, further comprising an initialization unit that initializes a state of the printing unit when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection unit. 5. An arbitration unit for arbitrating competition for the printing unit by a plurality of control units for each of the image signal sources, wherein the abnormality detection unit is included in the arbitration unit. The composite printing device according to claim 1. 6. The multifunction printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said abnormality detecting means is included in one of said plurality of control means. 7. The composite printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the abnormality detection unit is included in the plurality of control units, and each of the abnormality detection units detects an abnormality of each other. 8. The plurality of control means, a first control means using a host device as an image signal source, a second control means using an image scanner as an image signal source, and a telephone line as an image signal source. 3. The composite printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising at least one of a third control unit. 9. A control method for a composite image printing apparatus, wherein a control procedure for a printing unit is performed by a control unit for each image signal source, and the printing unit performs printing in accordance with an image signal from the image signal source, A composite printing method comprising: an abnormality detection step of detecting an abnormality in a control procedure by the signal source control means; and a restart step of restarting the control means when an abnormality is detected in the abnormality detection step. How to control the device. 10. The control means is provided in plurality corresponding to a plurality of image signal sources, and detects an abnormality in a control procedure by any of the plurality of control means in the abnormality detecting step.
The method according to claim 9, wherein the restarting step restarts the control unit in which the abnormality is detected. 11. One of the plurality of control units occupies the printing unit when printing is performed based on an image signal from a corresponding signal source. 11. The printing unit occupied by the printer is released by a restart.
3. The method for controlling a multifunction printer according to claim 1. 12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising an initialization step of initializing a state of the printing unit when an abnormality is detected in the abnormality detection step. 13. A computer executes a control procedure for a printing unit by a control unit for each image signal source,
A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for performing printing according to an image signal from an image signal source by the printing unit, wherein the computer program detects an abnormality in a control procedure by the signal source control unit. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising: an abnormality detecting step of performing an abnormality detection; and a restarting step of restarting a control unit when an abnormality is detected in the abnormality detecting step.