JP2002094718A - Information processor, data processing method for the information processor and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor that can relieve processing request operation load on a device, that re-submits a carrying out request, while awaiting recovery of a fault on a network. SOLUTION: The image processor is characterized in its configuration, such that a CPU 21 discriminates whether or not a connection state is confirmed, when making a prescribed image processing request to a device, the CPU 21 spools the prescribed image processing request to an external storage device 25b, when discriminating that the connection state cannot be confirmed, and automatically restarts the prescribed image processing request spooled in the external storage device 25 after reconfirmation of the connection state, once a prescribed is elapsed, after the discrimination of the connection state that is unable to be confirmed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of communicating via a network with a plurality of apparatuses for performing predetermined image processing and a server apparatus for controlling each of the apparatuses, a data processing method for the information processing apparatus, and It relates to a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plurality of terminals and a device such as a printer or a facsimile connected to each terminal on a network, a printer or a facsimile, etc., which receives a work execution request from the terminal and is shared by each terminal. There has been proposed a system to which a server for controlling devices is connected.

In such a system, when an execution request for work such as data printing or facsimile transmission is to be output from the terminal side to the device or a server for controlling the device, the execution request is temporarily sent to the terminal. Alternatively, by temporarily spooling in an external storage device provided in the server, execution of the actual work in the device and transmission of the execution request on the terminal side can be separated, and the utilization efficiency of the terminal can be improved.

[0004]

However, in the prior art as described above, when it is impossible to process an execution request from a terminal due to some kind of failure, the execution request is not processed for a user on the terminal side. Although a message is sent to the effect that the execution request cannot be completed, it is generally impossible to complete the execution request without resolving the fault that has occurred.

[0005] In such a system, it is not a problem if the generated fault can be solved immediately,
If not, there is the inconvenience that the user has to wait for the recovery of the trouble that has occurred and re-execute the work execution request again, and there has been a long-awaited improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to determine whether a connection state can be confirmed when a predetermined image processing request is issued to a device, When it is determined that the connection state cannot be confirmed, a predetermined image processing request is spooled in the storage unit, and after a predetermined time has elapsed after it is determined that the connection state cannot be confirmed, the connection state is reconfirmed, and then the storage unit is checked. By automatically restarting the predetermined image processing request spooled on the server, there is no need for the user to execute the execution request again after the recovery from the failure, and the user's operation burden is reduced and the convenience is improved. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of freely constructing a network data processing environment, a data processing method of the information processing apparatus, and a storage medium.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of devices for performing predetermined image processing and a server device for controlling each of the devices via a network. A confirmation unit (corresponding to the network control unit 27 shown in FIG. 2) for confirming a connection state between the device and the server device; and a confirmation unit for making a predetermined image processing request to the device. Determining means (corresponding to the CPU 21 and the network control unit 27 shown in FIG. 2) for determining whether the connection state has been confirmed;
If the determination unit determines that the connection state cannot be confirmed, a storage unit that spools a predetermined image processing request (corresponding to the external storage device 25b shown in FIG. 2) and the connection state cannot be confirmed by the determination unit A timer means (corresponding to the timer 28 shown in FIG. 2) for counting a predetermined time after the determination, and when the predetermined time is counted by the timer means, the connection state is confirmed by the confirmation means, and the spool is stored in the storage means. Control means (corresponding to the CPU 21 shown in FIG. 2) for resuming the specified image processing request.

[0008] A second invention according to the present invention relates to an analyzing means (C shown in FIG. 2) for analyzing a cause for which the connection state cannot be confirmed after spooling a predetermined image processing request in the storage means.
PU21), and the control unit restarts a first resumption process with a stop of a predetermined image processing request to the device and a predetermined image processing request to the device based on the analysis result by the analysis unit. The second restart process is switched and controlled.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the time measuring means measures a predetermined time arbitrarily variably set.

[0010] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, the analysis means determines whether the state of the network is a disconnected state.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined image processing includes a facsimile function, a print function, a scanner function, a copy function, and a data communication function.

A sixth invention according to the present invention is a data processing method of an information processing apparatus capable of communicating via a network with a plurality of devices for performing predetermined image processing and a server device for controlling each of the devices. A confirmation step (step (302) shown in FIG. 3) for confirming a connection state between the device or the server device, and a connection state confirmation by the confirmation means when a predetermined image processing request is issued to the device. A determining step (step (302) shown in FIG. 3) for determining whether or not the connection has been established; and a spooling step for spooling a predetermined image processing request to the storage means when it is determined that the connection state cannot be confirmed. Step (304) shown in FIG. 3) and a timer for measuring a predetermined time after it is determined that the connection state cannot be confirmed by the determination step. Step (Step (301) shown in FIG. 3) and control for restarting a predetermined image processing request spooled in the storage means after confirming a connection state by the confirming step when a prescribed time is measured in the timing step. Step (Step (31) shown in FIG. 3)
3) or step (308)).

A seventh invention according to the present invention comprises an analyzing step (step (305) shown in FIG. 3) for analyzing a cause for which the connection state cannot be confirmed after spooling a predetermined image processing request in the storage means. Having the control step,
On the basis of an analysis result of the analysis step, switching control is performed between a first resumption process accompanied by suspension of a predetermined image processing request to the device and a second resumption process for resuming a predetermined image processing request to the device. is there.

In an eighth invention according to the present invention, the timing step counts a predetermined time arbitrarily variably set.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the analyzing step, it is determined whether the state of the network is a disconnected state.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined image processing includes a facsimile function, a print function, a scanner function, a copy function, and a data communication function.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus capable of communicating via a network with a plurality of devices for performing predetermined image processing and a server device for controlling each of the devices. A confirmation step (step (30) shown in FIG. 3) for confirming a connection state between devices.
2)) and a determination step (step (30 in FIG. 3) shown in FIG. 3) for determining whether or not the connection state has been confirmed by the confirmation means when making a predetermined image processing request to the device.
2)), a spooling step (step (304) shown in FIG. 3) for spooling a predetermined image processing request to the storage means when it is determined that the connection state cannot be confirmed in the determining step, and A timekeeping step (step (301) shown in FIG. 3) for measuring a predetermined time after it is determined that the connection state cannot be confirmed, and when the predetermined time has been measured by the timekeeping step, the connection state is confirmed by the confirmation step. A control step (step (313) or step (3) shown in FIG. 3) for resuming a predetermined image processing request spooled in the storage means.
08)) is recorded on a recording medium in a computer-readable manner.

A twelfth invention according to the present invention has an analyzing step of analyzing a cause for which the connection state cannot be confirmed after spooling a predetermined image processing request in the storage means,
The control step (step (305) shown in FIG. 3)
Controls switching between a first resumption process accompanied by a stop of a predetermined image processing request to the device and a second resumption process for resuming the predetermined image processing request to the device based on the analysis result of the analysis step. Things.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the clocking step, a predetermined time arbitrarily set variably is clocked.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the analyzing step, it is determined whether the state of the network is a disconnected state.

In a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined image processing includes a facsimile function, a print function, a scanner function, a copy function, and a data communication function.

[0022]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a complex network system to which an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

In the figure, reference numerals 11A and 11B denote information processing devices (terminals) functioning as terminal devices.
A printer 13b is connected to 1A via a predetermined interface, and a facsimile machine (FAX) 14b is connected to the information processing apparatus 11B via a predetermined interface.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a server (server), which is a facsimile (FAX) 14 via a predetermined interface.
a and the printer 13a are connected. Reference numeral 15 denotes a network, which is capable of communicating with the information processing apparatuses 11A and 11B and the server 12 via a predetermined protocol.

It should be noted that the network system shown in the present embodiment includes the printers 13a and 13b and the facsimile machine 1
4a and 14b and a plurality of terminals (the information processing apparatuses 11A and 11B in FIG. 1 and a server 12 for controlling the apparatuses are taken as an example, but a plurality of other terminals are connected. You may.

The devices, terminals and servers, which are components of the system, are interconnected by a transmission line (network 15) composed of optical fibers and coaxial cables.

FIG. 2 shows the information processing apparatus 11 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of A and 11B, and the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Note that the hardware configuration of the server 12 is also the same as in FIG.

In FIG. 2, a CPU 21, a memory 22,
The timer 28, the monitor 23, the keyboard 24, the network control circuit 27, the external storage control circuit 25a, and the external device control circuit 26a are connected by a bus, and the terminal can be connected to the network 15 via the network control circuit 27. An external storage device 25b (corresponding to the printer or facsimile device shown in FIG. 1) is connected to the external storage control circuit 25a.

In the network system configured as described above, when an execution request from a user is spooled, the spool data is stored in the external storage device 25b in the information processing devices 11A and 11B. An external device 26b such as a printer or a facsimile device can be connected to the external device control circuit 26a. Here, the timer 28 is used to control an execution interval and an execution time when the connection state confirmation processing is repeated.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.
This corresponds to the spool control procedure in the information processing apparatuses 11A and 11B shown in FIG. Note that (301) to (31)
3) shows each step.

First, at step (301), when a request for execution of work such as data printing or facsimile transmission is made by the user, the CPU 21 starts the timer 28, and at step (302), sends an execution request. Server 1 that controls devices on the target network 15
2, or access the external device 26b connected to the external device control circuit 26a to check the connection state.

At this stage, if the CPU 21 determines that the connection has been confirmed, the process proceeds to step (303), in which the terminal sends an execution request to the external storage device 25b without spooling, thereby completing the process. I do.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (302) that the connection has not been confirmed, step (30)
In 4), the execution request is spooled in the external storage device 25b inside the own device.

It should be noted that the case where it is impossible to confirm the connection with the transmission destination of the live condition request due to the disconnection or congestion of the network 15 is the first case (the case where the network is physically disconnected (the device This includes the case where the power is turned off, etc.) or the second case (when the connection cannot be confirmed temporarily due to a failure such as congestion of the network). Do.

Therefore, in step (305), it is determined whether the connection state is the first case or the second case, that is, whether or not the connection state is due to a physical disconnection of the network (first, execution request transmission). When it is determined that it is impossible to confirm the connection with the destination, it performs a process of sequentially accessing other terminals on the network until the connection is confirmed, and the connection is established for all accessible terminals. If it is not confirmed, it shall be determined that the network is physically disconnected), and if it is determined that the network is physically disconnected,
In step (306), a polling interval for confirming the connection status is referred to by referring to a table defined in advance by the user and stored in the external storage device 25b, and a waiting time until the process is stopped when the connection is not restored. Set.

Next, in step (307), it is checked whether or not the connection with the execution request sending destination has been confirmed by polling. If it is determined that the connection has been confirmed, in step (308), An execution request is sent, and the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (307) that the connection has not been confirmed, step (309)
Then, it is confirmed whether or not the waiting time set by the user has elapsed and it is time to stop the processing. If NO, the process returns to step (307), and if YES, the process returns to step (310).
Then, the CPU 21 of the terminal notifies the user to that effect via the monitor 23 or the like, and ends the processing.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step (305) that the network is not physically disconnected, that is, if it is determined that the connection cannot be confirmed due to a failure such as network congestion (second state). In step (311), polling of the execution request destination is performed at a time interval (for example, every 3 minutes) that does not impose a load on the network 15, and in step (312), the system waits until the connection is confirmed. Then, when the connection is confirmed, the process proceeds to step (313), an execution request is sent, and the process ends.

In this way, when a failure of the network, the server, the device, or the like occurs, the failure is confirmed by the connection confirmation processing for the execution request transmission destination provided in the terminal side, and the execution request that has not been processed is not stopped. The spool is temporarily spooled on a storage medium such as an external storage device, and when the failure is recovered, the spooled execution request is automatically retransmitted, so that the user waits for the recovery of the failure and re-executes the execution request. There is an effect of improving the service that there is no need to perform it.

[Other Embodiments] When the number of spooled execution requests is large, the processing order can be changed so that processing can be performed in accordance with a preset priority (arbitrarily settable). May be configured. Thus, the processing order may be changed for each user or for each function processing so as to flexibly cope with the system environment of the user.

In the above embodiment, the case where the processing suspension time is fixed has been described. However, if the type of fault can be detected for each terminal or each user, and if the type of fault can be detected, the content of the fault is described. The processing suspension time can be set accordingly, and the set suspension time is managed by a table or the like, and each processing suspension time is made variable to flexibly respond to the user's system environment. It may be configured so that a processing request can be started promptly after recovery from a failure.

Further, in the above embodiment, a wired network has been described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to a wireless LAN or the like.

In the connection confirmation processing, when it is determined that the network is physically disconnected, the fact is displayed on the monitor 23 of the terminals 11A and 11B, and the confirmation is inquired to the user. Alternatively, control may be performed such that a button instruction or the like from a user who determines to cancel the processing request is detected and the cancellation processing is executed.

According to the above embodiment, the user on the terminal side can end the execution of a desired task at the time of making an execution request, and the user can immediately proceed to the next task.

At this time, if the connection with the transmission destination is confirmed at the time of sending the execution request, the execution request is sent without any new user's operation and without being stopped. Is much lighter.

Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program readable by a network system to which the information processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a storage medium for storing various data processing programs readable by a network system to which the information processing apparatus according to the present invention can be applied.

Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator, etc. are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, a program is stored in the storage medium. An icon or the like for identification display may also be stored.

Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.

The functions shown in FIG. 3 in this embodiment may be executed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when a group of information including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Things.

As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is provided.
It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved when U) reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, C
D-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, etc. can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) And the like perform part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing,
It goes without saying that a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.

[0056]

As described above, the first embodiment according to the present invention is described.
According to the fifteenth aspect, it is determined whether or not the connection state can be confirmed when making a predetermined image processing request to the device, and when it is determined that the connection state cannot be confirmed, the predetermined image processing request is stored. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed since it was determined that the connection status could not be confirmed, the connection status was reconfirmed, and the predetermined image processing request spooled in the storage device was automatically restarted. This eliminates the need for the execution request to be made again after waiting for the recovery from the failure, thereby reducing the user's operation burden and freely constructing a highly convenient network data processing environment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a complex network system to which an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the information processing apparatus illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the information processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by a network system to which the information processing device according to the present invention can be applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11A, 11B Information processing device 12 Server 13a-13b Printer 14a-14b Facsimile device 21 CPU 22 Memory 23 Monitor 24 Keyboard 25a External storage control circuit 25b External storage device 26a External device control circuit 26b External device 27 Network control circuit 28 Timer

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Claims (15)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus capable of communicating via a network with a plurality of devices that perform predetermined image processing and a server device that controls each of the devices, and a connection state between the devices or the server devices. A determination unit that determines whether a connection state has been confirmed by the confirmation unit when making a predetermined image processing request to the device; and a determination that the connection state cannot be confirmed by the determination unit. Storage means for spooling a predetermined image processing request, a timer means for measuring a predetermined time since the connection state cannot be confirmed by the determination means, and a predetermined time period measured by the timer means. Control means for resuming a predetermined image processing request spooled in the storage means after confirming a connection state by the confirmation means. The information processing apparatus according to claim. 2. After spooling a predetermined image processing request in the storage unit, the analysis unit analyzes the cause of the inability to confirm the connection state. The control unit, based on an analysis result by the analysis unit, 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein switching between a first resumption process accompanied by suspension of a predetermined image processing request to the device and a second resumption process for resuming the predetermined image processing request to the device is controlled. apparatus. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said time measuring means measures a predetermined time arbitrarily variably set. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the analysis unit determines whether the state of the network is a disconnected state. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined image processing includes a facsimile function, a print function, a scanner function, a copy function, and a data communication function. 6. A data processing method for an information processing device capable of communicating via a network with a plurality of devices for performing predetermined image processing and a server device for controlling each of the devices, wherein the device or the server device A confirmation step of confirming a connection state with the device; a determination step of determining whether the connection state has been confirmed by the confirmation means when performing a predetermined image processing request to the device; and confirming a connection state of the determination step. A spooling step of spooling a predetermined image processing request to the storage means when it is determined that the connection cannot be made; a timing step of timing a predetermined time after the determination step determines that the connection state cannot be confirmed; and the timing step When a predetermined time has been measured by the check, the connection state is checked in the checking step, and then Data processing method for an information processing apparatus characterized by having a predetermined resuming control step the image processing request that is Le, the. 7. An analysis step of, after spooling a predetermined image processing request in said storage means, analyzing a factor that cannot confirm the connection state, wherein the control step is based on an analysis result by the analysis step. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein switching control is performed between a first resumption process accompanied by suspension of a predetermined image processing request to the device and a second resumption process for resuming the predetermined image processing request to the device. The data processing method of the device. 8. The data processing method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said timing step counts a predetermined time that is variably set. 9. The data processing method according to claim 7, wherein the analyzing step determines whether the state of the network is a disconnected state. 10. The data processing method according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined image processing includes a facsimile function, a print function, a scanner function, a copy function, and a data communication function. 11. A connection status between a plurality of devices for performing predetermined image processing and an information processing device capable of communicating via a network with a server device for controlling each of the devices and a connection state between the devices or the server devices is confirmed. A step of performing a predetermined image processing request to the device; a determining step of determining whether a connection state has been successfully confirmed by the confirmation unit; and a case in which the determination step determines that the connection state cannot be confirmed. A spooling step of spooling a predetermined image processing request to the storage means, a time counting step for counting a predetermined time after the determination is made that the connection state cannot be confirmed, and a time counting for the predetermined time by the timing step. In the case, after the connection state is confirmed in the confirmation step, a predetermined image spooled in the storage means Recorded computer-readable storage medium storing a program for executing a resume controlling step the management request. 12. After the predetermined image processing request is spooled in the storage unit, the analysis step includes an analysis step of analyzing a factor that cannot confirm the connection state. The control step includes: 12. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein switching control is performed between a first resumption process accompanied by suspension of a predetermined image processing request to the device and a second resumption process for resuming the predetermined image processing request to the device. . 13. The clocking step according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined time is arbitrarily variably set.
The storage medium according to the above. 14. The storage medium according to claim 12, wherein the analyzing step determines whether the state of the network is a disconnected state. 15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined image processing includes a facsimile function, a print function, a scanner function, a copy function, and a data communication function.
3. The storage medium according to 3.