JP2002334022A - Information processor for data in storage medium and control system for access to data in recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control access to data in the same recording medium by a plurality of devices without exerting any adverse influence while acknowledging requests from users to a certain extent. SOLUTION: A card access control part 37 always allows a host device 7 to read a file out of a memory card 5 through a printer 1. The card access control part 37 disallows the host device to write a file to the memory card 5 when some button of a console panel 3 is operated, i.e., when stand-alone printing wherein a JPEG image file is read in from the memory card 5 and printed is performed possibly performed.

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 for reading data from a recording medium and processing the data. Furthermore,
The present invention relates to a technique for controlling a plurality of devices from accessing the same recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of an information processing apparatus for processing data in a recording medium, there is a printer having an interface of a detachable memory card. The printer is connected to a host device such as a personal computer to implement a printing system. Can be configured. In the print system, a printer reads a file from a memory card attached to the interface and prints the file.
The host device can read a file from a memory card mounted on the interface via a printer or write a file to the memory card via the printer.

The above-described printer has a mode functioning as a stand-alone machine (hereinafter, stand-alone mode) and a mode functioning as a peripheral device of a host device such as a personal computer (hereinafter, peripheral device mode). In the stand-alone mode, a file selected by the user can be directly read from the memory card inserted into the interface (not through the host device) and printed (hereinafter, stand-alone printing). In the peripheral device mode, in response to a request from the host device, a file received from the host device is printed, or the host device is allowed to access the memory card, and the file is read from the memory card and sent to the host device. Alternatively, a file received from the host device can be written to a memory card, and a file in the memory card can be rewritten to a file received from the host device.

[0004]

In the above-described printer, if access to the memory card from the host device is unnecessarily permitted while the stand-alone mode is on, the file being printed in the stand-alone mode is separated by the host device. The file may be rewritten to cause inconsistency in the file, which may have adverse effects such as inability to print and system instability.

[0005] For this reason, the stand-alone printer is provided with a switch for switching between a stand-alone mode and a peripheral device mode. Controlled to prevent access.

However, even during printing in the stand-alone mode, there is a demand to read a file in the memory card and edit / rewrite the file using the host device. However, unnecessarily permitting the host device to access the memory card in response to this request has the above-mentioned adverse effects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to control the above-mentioned access so that a plurality of devices access data in the same recording medium so as not to have an adverse effect while allowing a user's request to a certain extent. It is in.

[0008]

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention is an information processing apparatus that reads data from a recording medium and processes the data. Or an operation that has or has a possibility of accessing the data to be rewritten)
Hereinafter, it will be referred to as the time of access, etc.), and to an external device (that is, a device other than the information processing device according to the present invention)
An access control unit that permits reading of the target data but prohibits rewriting of the target data is provided.

According to the present invention, even when the information processing device accesses the target data, an external device can access the target data within a certain range. Specifically, the external device can read the target data. . Thus, when the information processing apparatus accesses the target data, etc., while accepting the user's request (for example, reading and editing the target data) to some extent, the cause of the adverse effect, for example, It is possible to prevent an external device from rewriting the target data while the target data is being processed, thereby causing inconsistency in the target data.

In a preferred embodiment, the range in which the access control means prohibits rewriting of an external device is as follows: (1) to (3) (1) Only the target data in the recording medium
(2) a section of a logical or physical recording area in which the target data is recorded, and (3) an entire recording area of the recording medium. More preferably, the access control means permits an external device to freely access a recording area of the recording medium other than a range in which rewriting is prohibited.

An access control method according to the present invention is an access control method for controlling a plurality of devices from accessing the same recording medium, wherein a certain device accesses target data in the recording medium or When an operation having a possibility of access is performed, reading of the target data is permitted to another device, but rewriting of the target data is prohibited.

An access control method according to the present invention is an access control method for controlling a plurality of devices from accessing the same recording medium, wherein a certain device accesses target data in the recording medium or When an operation having a possibility of access is performed, reading of the target data is permitted to another device, but rewriting of the target data is prohibited.

[0013] The computer program according to the present invention comprises:
A computer program for executing controlling a plurality of devices to access the same recording medium, wherein one device has performed an operation that has or may access target data in the recording medium. At this time, reading of the target data is permitted to another device, but rewriting of the target data is prohibited.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a printing system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, a print system according to the present embodiment includes a printer 1 and a predetermined interface with the printer 1, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Communication).
rialBus) and a host device 7 such as a personal computer. The printer 1 has an operation panel 3 for a user to give various commands to the printer 1 by operating buttons, and a slot 4 for inserting a memory card 5. The memory card 5 is a recording medium itself or a recording medium set in a card holder suitable for the interface of the printer 1 (for example, a memory card conforming to the PCMCIA standard), and is detachable.

The printer 1 can function both as a stand-alone machine and as a peripheral device of the host device 7.

When functioning as a stand-alone machine, the printer 1 operates in response to a command from a user through the operation panel 3 to operate the memory card 5 inserted into the slot 4.
Directly (ie, without passing through the host device 7), and reads the image file (for example, an image file compressed in the JPEG format;
The user can open the PEG image file and print the image in the JPEG image file (stand-alone printing).
In stand-alone printing, there are two types of printing modes, index printing and normal printing. Index print means that when a command for executing index print is received from the user via the operation panel 3, the memory card 5
All the JPEG image files recorded in the JPEG image file are sequentially read and opened, the image numbers (numbers for identifying the images) are assigned to the opened JPEG image files, and the images in all the JPEG image files are listed in a list format. And print it. Normal printing refers to the input of the image number of the image desired by the user and the number of copies of the image among the index-printed images, and the image number input by the user when receiving a command to execute normal printing from the user. Read and open the JPEG image file of the image corresponding to
That is to print the images in the JPEG image file by the number of prints input by the user.

On the other hand, when functioning as a peripheral device of the host device 7, the printer 1 receives a print image from the host device 7 and prints it, or in response to a request from the host device 7, Access to the card 5, that is, in response to a request from the host device 7, a JPEG image file is read from the memory card 5 and sent to the host device 7,
The JPEG image file received from the host device 7 is written into the memory card 5 or the JPEG image file in the memory card 5 is rewritten to the JPEG image file received from the host device 7.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printer 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes a hub 31 which is an interface with the host device 7 and a stand-alone printing unit 41 which can perform stand-alone printing. Standalone printing unit 41
Is a card reader / writer 35, a print processing unit 33,
A card access control unit 37.

The card reader / writer 35 is a HUB 31
And is communicably connected to the host device 7 via USB (that is, connected to the HUB 31 via USB). The card reader / writer 35 sends a JP from the memory card 5 according to the content of the button operation on the operation panel 3.
The EG image file is read and passed to the print processing unit 33, and the JPEG image file is read from the memory card 5 and sent to the host device 7 according to a request from the host device 7. Further, the card reader / writer 35 receives a write request to the memory card 5 from the host device 7,
Under the control of the card access control unit 37, the host device 7
And writes it to the memory card 5 in accordance with a request from the host device 7. The card reader / writer 35 receives the write request to the memory card 5 from the host device 7 and stores the JPEG image file received from the host device 7 in the memory card 5.
Is notified to the card access control unit 37.

The print processing unit 33 is communicably connected to the host device 7 via the HUB 31 via USB (that is, connected to the HUB 31 via USB). The print processing unit 33 receives a JPEG image file from the card reader / writer 35 or a print image from the host device 7 and processes and prints the received image in a predetermined procedure. More specifically, when receiving a JPEG image file (ie, when performing stand-alone printing), the print processing circuit 33 decompresses (expands) the JPEG image file and converts the image represented by the RGB color system. The acquired and converted image color system RGB is converted into a color system CMY (or CMYK) that can be displayed by the printer 1 (so-called color conversion), and the image converted into the CMY color system is subjected to a halftoning process. Predetermined method (for example, interlace method)
Print with. When receiving the print image, the print processing circuit 33 processes and prints the print image in a procedure of color conversion and half-toning. The print processing circuit 33
When the stand-alone printing (that is, the index printing or the normal printing) is completed, the fact is notified to the card access control unit 37 (that is, the end of the index printing or the normal printing).

The card access control section 37 can identify the content of the button operation on the operation panel 3 (that is, the content of what command the user has issued to the printer 1). Access to the memory card 5 via the writer 35 is controlled. More specifically, the card access control unit 37 reads the memory card 5 from the host device 7, that is, the host device 7 reads the JPEG image file from the memory card 5 via the card reader / writer 35. ,
Since there is no risk that the system will be affected even if the permission is always given, the permission is always given. The card access controller 37 sends a write request from the host device 7 to the memory card 5, that is, the host device 7 writes a JPEG image file to the memory card 5 via the card reader / writer 35 in FIG.
And control as shown in FIG.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the processing flow of the card access control unit 37 when controlling writing to the memory card 5 of the host device 7.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the card access control unit 37 identifies that a button operation for executing the above index print has been performed on the operation panel 3 (step S1), the card access control unit 37 receives a command from the host device 7. Do not accept write requests to memory card 5,
In other words, the host device 7 prohibits writing of the JPEG image file to the memory card 5 at all (that is, the host device 7 cannot write the JPEG image file at all to the memory card 5. (Referred to as "write-protected state of device 7") (S
2). Thereafter, the JPEG image files in the memory card 5 are sequentially read and index printing is performed (S3, S4). When the end of the index printing is notified from the print processing unit 33 (YES in S5, S6),
The card access control unit 37 releases the write-protected state of the host device 7 (S7). That is, this step S
7, the host device 7 becomes the card reader / writer 35
, A JPEG image file can be written to the memory card 5.

When the card access control unit 37 recognizes that some button operation, for example, the button input of the image number on the operation panel 3 has been performed (S8), the host device 7 transmits the JPEG image file. Writing to the memory card 5 is completely prohibited (S9). Thereafter, if no button operation is performed on the operation panel 3 until a certain time has elapsed (YES in S14), the card access control unit 37 releases the write-protected state of the host device 7 after step S9 (S15). ).

When the card access control unit 37 identifies that the button operation for executing the normal printing has been performed after step S8 (S10), the host device 7 stores the JPEG image file in the memory card. 5 is completely prohibited (S2). Thereafter, the JPEG image file in the memory card 5 is read and normal printing is performed (S11, S12). When the end of the normal printing is notified from the print processing unit 33 (YE in S13, S6).
S), the card access control unit 37 releases the write-protected state of the host device 7 after step S2 (S).
7).

As shown in FIG. 4, when the card access control unit 37 is notified from the card reader / writer 35 that a write request to the memory card 5 has been received from the host device 7 (S20), The operation panel 3 is prohibited from accepting a button operation (that is, the operation panel 3 is set in a state where the button operation cannot be performed) (S21). afterwards,
When the card access control unit 37 is notified from the card reader / writer 35 that the JPEG image file received from the host device 7 has been written to the memory card 5 (YES in S22), the button operation after step S21 is performed. The state in which the operation is impossible is released, that is, the operation panel 3 is permitted to accept the button operation (S23).

According to the above-described embodiment, the card access control unit 37 always permits the host device 7 to read the JPEG image file from the memory card 5 via the printer 1. Thus, the user can freely send the JP 7 to the host device 7 even during the stand-alone printing.
Since an operation such as editing can be performed by reading the EG image file, it is convenient for the user.

Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the card access control unit 37 performs the operation when any button operation is performed on the operation panel 3, that is,
When the stand-alone printing in which the EG image file is read and printed is performed or is likely to be performed, the host device 7 is prevented from writing the JPEG image file in the memory card 5. As a result, the JPEG image file during the stand-alone printing is transferred to the host device 7.
Thus, it is possible to eliminate the occurrence of a cause that adversely affects the system, such as rewriting to another file and causing inconsistency in the file.

By the way, the present invention can be conceived with another embodiment as follows, for example. Hereinafter, another embodiment will be described.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of a printer according to another embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those of the printer 1 according to the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Hereinafter, the differences from the printer 1 will be mainly described.

In the printer 100 according to this embodiment, the HUB 31 includes not only the host device 7 but also an external storage device (for example, a so-called external hard disk, a rewritable or non-rewritable recording medium (for example, a CD). -R or CD-RW), a digital camera, etc.) 50 can be connected. The printer 100 is connected to the host device 7
Alternatively, in response to a request from a user who operates the operation panel 3, data in the external storage device 50 is output to the host device 7 or the memory card 5, data transferred from the host device 7 or data in the memory card 5. The JPEG image file can be transferred to the external storage device 50 and stored.

The printer 100 receives a command from a user to store all or a part of the JPEG image files in the memory card 5 in the external storage device 50 (hereinafter referred to as a "card backup command"). it can.
When a card backup command is issued to the printer 100, the host device 7 is controlled to access the memory card 5 inside the printer 100 as described below.

FIG. 6 shows a flow of control of writing to the memory card 5 of the host device 7 performed inside the printer 100 when a card backup command is issued to the printer 100.

When a card backup command is issued to the printer 100 (Y in S30), the card access control unit 370 causes the host device 7 to send a JP to the memory card 5.
Control is performed so that no EG image file can be written, that is, the host device 7 starts a write-protected state (S31). Also, the internal status information stored at a predetermined location inside the printer and indicating the current internal status of the printer (or the progress of a series of operations for card backup) is switched to information indicating that a card backup process is in progress. Can be

Subsequently, the size of the file transferred by the card backup process (ie, one or more JPEG image files transferred and stored in the external storage device 50, hereinafter, transfer source file) and the transfer destination of the transfer source file The free storage capacity of the external storage device 50 is calculated (S31, S32). Then, the calculated size of the transfer source file is compared with the free storage capacity of the external storage device 50 (S34).

As a result of the comparison, if the free storage capacity is smaller than the size of the transfer source file (N in S34), it is determined that the card backup cannot be performed, and the user is notified of this (for example, A message to the effect that the free storage capacity of the external storage device 50 is insufficient is displayed on the host device 7 or the operation panel 3), and the card access control unit 370 releases the write-protected state of the host device 7. (S38).

On the other hand, as a result of the comparison in S34, if the free storage capacity is equal to or larger than the size of the transfer source file (Y in S34), the transfer source file (that is, the JPEG image file in the memory card 5 to be backed up on the card)
Starts to be transferred to the external storage device 50, that is, the card backup process is started (S35).

During the card backup process (N in S36), the card access control unit 370 maintains a state in which the host device 7 cannot write data to the memory card 7 (S37). That is, the write-protected state of the host device 7 continues until the card backup process ends.

After a while from step S35, when the card backup process is completed (Y in S36), the host device 7 can write data to the memory card 7 by the card access control unit 370 (S38). That is, when the end of the card backup process is detected, the write-protected state of the host device 7 is released (S37). At the same time, the above-described internal state information is switched to information indicating the end of the card backup processing.

According to this alternative embodiment, while the transfer source file (JPEG image file) in the memory card 5 is continuously transferred to the external storage device 50, the host device 7
Is completely prohibited from writing data to the memory card 7. This prevents the transfer source file from being rewritten by the host device 7 to another file during the card backup process, thereby preventing the file from becoming inconsistent, thereby causing an error such as a failure in the card backup process. Can be prevented.

By the way, in this other embodiment, the following modified example can be considered.

FIG. 7 shows the internal configuration of a printer according to a modification of the above another embodiment.

In the printer 200 according to the present modification, a card access control unit 370 is communicably connected to the HUB 31.
, A USB host controller 250 is communicably connected. An external storage device (for example, an MO drive or a digital camera) 50 can be connected to the USB host controller 250. With this configuration, the data transmitted from the host device 7 is written to the external storage device 50, the host device 7 or the print processing unit 33 reads the data in the external storage device 50, and stores the data in the memory card 5 in the external storage device. The data can be written to the device 50 and the data in the external storage device 50 can be written to the memory card 5.

With this configuration, the card access control unit 47
0 is exclusive access control to the memory card 35 or the external storage device 50 of the host device 7 or the memory card 35 or the The exclusive access control to the external storage device 50 can be executed. Further, the card access control unit 470 can also execute exclusive control of access of the card reader / writer 35 to the external storage device 50.

That is, for example, during a card backup process for the external storage device 50, the card access control unit 470 prohibits the host device 7 from writing data to the memory card 5 at all. When receiving a command to transfer the data in the external storage device 50 to the memory card 5, the card access control unit 470 prohibits the host device 7 from writing data to the external storage device 50 at all.

Further, for example, when a button operation for printing the contents of a file in the external storage device 50 is performed on the operation panel 3 or when the print processing unit 33
During reading and printing of the contents of the file in the file 0 (that is, when performing stand-alone printing), the card access control unit 470 sends the data to the external storage device 50 by the host device 7 or the card reader / writer 35. Writing is forbidden at all.

Although some preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these are merely examples for describing the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to these embodiments. . The present invention can be implemented in other various forms. For example, the file read / written to / from the memory card 5 is not limited to a JPEG image file, but may be a text file or the like. Operation panel 3
May include not only buttons but also another input device such as a trackball. Further, the printer 1 may receive and print a JPEG image file instead of a print image from the host device 7. Also, in steps S2 and S9 of FIG. 3, the host device 7 may be prohibited from rewriting only files already written in the memory card 5 or only files read by the printer 1 ( That is, in steps S2 and S9, the card access control unit 37 does not prohibit the host device 7 from writing to the memory card 5 at all, but only the files already written in the memory card 5 May allow writing other than rewriting only the file read by the printer 1). This makes the printing system more user-friendly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a print system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a card access control unit 37 when controlling writing to the memory card 5 of the host device 7;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a card access control unit 37 when controlling writing to the memory card 5 of the host device 7;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a printer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a host device 7 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
The figure which shows the processing flow of the card access control part 370 at the time of controlling writing to the memory card 5 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a printer according to a modification of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 100, 200 Printer 3 Operation panel 5 Memory card 7 Host device 35 Card reader / writer 37, 370, 470 Card access control unit 50 External storage device 250 USB host controller

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C087 AB05 BC07 BC12 BD01 5B017 AA01 AA07 BA06 BB10 CA16 5B065 BA09 CA02 CC03 PA02 PA12 5B082 EA11 GA13

Claims (6)

[Claims] An information processing apparatus that reads data from a recording medium and processes the data, wherein when the information processing apparatus has accessed or has a possibility of accessing target data in the recording medium, an external An information processing apparatus comprising an access control unit that permits the apparatus to read the target data but prohibits rewriting of the target data. 2. The range in which the access control means prohibits the external device from rewriting the data is as follows:
(3) (1) only the target data in the recording medium, (2) a section of a logical or physical recording area in which the target data is recorded, and (3) the entire recording area of the recording medium. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is one selected from a group. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the access control means permits the external device to freely access a recording area of the recording medium other than a range in which the rewriting is prohibited. Information processing device. 4. An access control method for controlling a plurality of devices from accessing the same recording medium, wherein a certain device has accessed or may access target data in the recording medium. When the action,
An access control method for permitting another device to read the target data, but prohibiting rewriting of the target data. 5. An access control method for controlling a plurality of devices from accessing the same recording medium, wherein a certain device has accessed or is likely to access target data in the recording medium. When the action,
An access control method for permitting another device to read the target data, but prohibiting rewriting of the target data. 6. A computer program for controlling a plurality of devices to access the same recording medium, wherein a certain device has accessed or can access target data in the recording medium. Behavior
A computer program for permitting another device to read the target data but prohibit rewriting the target data.