JP2003174533A - Image forming device, method for displaying communication history between processes and program for making computer perform the method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the resources used in the memory of an image forming device by starting only needed components when inter-process communication information is displayed. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming device is provided with an HD 103 storing a communications log file 305 including communications information of inter- process communications by an application or control device and time information, a communications history display part 308 comprising a plurality of components that can be started independently of one another and for extracting the communications information from the communications log file 305 and displaying the extracted communications information on an operation panel 210, and a component start means 118 for selecting one or a plurality of components needed to display communications information to be extracted from the communications history display part 308 on the basis of a control file 304 that defines an extraction condition for the communications information to be extracted from the communications log file 305, and starting the selected components. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention can display, for debugging, a communication history of interprocess communication performed when providing a user service related to image forming processing such as copying, printer, scanner, and facsimile. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, such an interprocess communication history display method, and a program that causes a computer to execute the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a "multifunction machine") in which the functions of various devices such as a printer, a copier, a facsimile, and a scanner are housed in a single housing is generally known. This multi-function peripheral is provided with a display unit, a printing unit, an image pickup unit, and the like in one housing, and is provided with three types of software corresponding to a printer, a copier, and a facsimile device, respectively. It is operated as a copying machine, a scanner, or a facsimile machine.

In such a multifunction machine, since an application program that operates as a process in each functional unit such as a printer, copy, facsimile, and scanner is being developed, the process in each functional unit operates normally in the multifunction machine. I was doing debugging work to investigate whether or not there is a process unit.

In such a conventional multifunctional machine, processes are executed in large functional units such as copy, printer, scanner, and facsimile, so that data transmission / reception between processes does not occur so much. It was possible to easily detect the cause of failure by debugging work performed for each process. For example, if a failure occurs in the copy operation, whether the process of the copy program that realizes the copy function is operating normally can be verified separately from the process that realizes other functions such as the printer program. I was able to easily understand the cause of the failure.

When debugging a conventional multi-function peripheral, the data exchanged in the process of each functional unit and various process information are written out as a log file together with time information, and the log file is connected to the multi-function peripheral via a network. PC for debugging (Personal Com
It is general that the file is transferred to a puter) or the like, and the log file is analyzed on the debugging PC side for debugging.

[0006]

However, when debugging the multi-function peripheral, if the debugging work is performed on the PC side connected to the network, the file transfer of the log file becomes complicated, and the operation of the multi-function peripheral during debugging is performed. Confirmation becomes difficult. Therefore, it is preferable that the log file be displayed on the display unit of the operation panel, which is an operation unit on the side of the multi-function peripheral, so that the debugging work can be performed.

However, the memory mounted on the multi-function peripheral is generally smaller than the memory mounted on the PC or the like. Therefore, the program for displaying the log file cannot be executed on the multi-function peripheral due to lack of memory resources, or even if it can be executed, the log file can be displayed on the operation panel by using the limit of the memory resource used. It cannot be displayed smoothly.

By the way, in such a conventional multifunction machine,
Since software corresponding to a printer, a copier, a scanner, and a facsimile machine is separately provided, it takes a lot of time to develop each software. Therefore, the applicant has hardware resources used for image forming processing such as a display unit, a printing unit, and an imaging unit, and has an application that performs processing unique to each user service such as a printer, copy, or facsimile. When a plurality of the applications are installed and the user services are provided by intervening between these applications and the hardware resources, management of hardware resources commonly required by at least two of the applications, execution control, and image forming processing Invented an image forming apparatus (multi-function peripheral) having a platform composed of various control services for performing the above. According to this multi-function peripheral, at least two of the applications have a platform for performing management of hardware resources, execution control, and image forming processing commonly required by the applications, thereby improving the efficiency of software development. Therefore, it is possible to improve the productivity of the entire device.

In such a new multifunction machine, not only a plurality of application processes exist for each function,
There is a control service process that provides services commonly required by at least two of the applications, and within the multi-function device, a very large number of processes perform parallel communication while performing inter-process communication with each other. It is running. In addition, a plurality of threads are activated inside each process, and while performing parallel execution at the thread level, communication between other processes is performed and the function of user service is realized. Moreover,
In such a multi-function peripheral, the control service process is positioned to provide a service commonly required by a plurality of applications, and therefore each control service transmits / receives data to / from a plurality of application processes. In addition, data is transmitted and received not only between the processes of the application but also between the processes of the control services.

As described above, the novel multi-function machine invented by the applicant is a user service related to image forming processing such as copying, printing, scanning, and facsimileing, in which a large number of processes and threads are intricately intertwined and cooperate with each other. It has a characteristic structure of providing. For this reason,
In such a new multi-function peripheral, it is necessary to generate a log file from inter-process communication data performed by many processes and perform debugging work. However, not all interprocess communication data in the log file is necessarily required for debugging work, and it is sufficient to be able to display only the necessary information in the log file.

The present invention has been made in view of the above,
When displaying inter-process communication information in an environment where many processes operate, start only the necessary components,
An object of the present invention is to obtain an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the resources used by a memory, an interprocess communication history display method, and a program for causing a computer to execute the method.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 performs processing unique to a hardware resource used in an image forming process and a user service related to the image forming process. An application, and an acquisition request, management, execution control of the hardware resource that is interposed between the application and the hardware resource and is commonly required by at least two of the applications when providing the user service. An image forming apparatus comprising a control service for performing image forming processing, wherein the application and the control service each operate as a process, and provide the user service by performing inter-process communication, wherein the application or the control service By process A storage unit that stores communication history information including communication information and time information of intercommunication, and a plurality of components that can be activated independently of each other. The communication information is extracted from the communication history information, and the extracted communication Communication history display means for displaying information on the operation panel, and one or a plurality of components necessary for displaying the communication information to be extracted based on the control information defining the extraction condition of the communication information to be extracted from the communication history information. And a component starting means for starting the selected component selected from the communication history display means.

According to the invention of claim 1, the communication history display means is composed of a plurality of components which can be activated independently of each other, and the control which defines the extraction condition of the communication information extracted from the communication history information by the component activation means. Based on the information, select one or more components necessary for displaying the extracted communication information from the communication history display means,
By starting the selected component, extracting the communication information from the communication history information, and displaying the extracted communication information on the operation panel, only the components necessary for displaying the communication information are started in cooperation with the control information. Therefore, it is possible to reduce resources during debugging work in the image forming apparatus equipped with a small capacity memory.

The invention according to claim 2 is the same as claim 1.
In the image forming apparatus described in (1), the communication history display unit includes, as the component, a header extraction unit that extracts header information including a data type of the communication information and process identification information from the communication history information, and the component startup The means selects and activates the header extracting means when the control information is set to display only the header information.

According to the invention of claim 2, the communication history display means includes, as the component, header extraction means for extracting header information including the data type of the communication information and process identification information, and the component activation means When the control information is set to display only the header information, the header extraction unit is selected and activated, whereby the header of the communication information is displayed when the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus is insufficient. Since the debugging work can be performed by displaying only the information, resources for the debugging work in the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

The invention according to claim 3 is the same as claim 1
In the image forming apparatus described in (1), the communication history display unit converts the message / function identification information for identifying a message or function included in the communication information from the communication history information into a message name or a function name as the component. Equipped with message name / function name conversion means to
It is characterized in that the component starting means selects and starts the message name / function name converting means when conversion of the message / function identification information is designated in the control information.

According to the invention of claim 3, as the component, the communication history display means converts the message / function identification information for identifying the message or function included in the communication information into a message name or a function name. A name / function name conversion means is provided, and when the component activation means specifies conversion of message / function identification information in the control information, the message name / function name conversion means is selected and activated. , It is possible to debug by selecting whether to display the message name or function name according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus.
It is possible to reduce resources during debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 4 is the same as claim 1.
Alternatively, in the image forming apparatus described in the item 3, the communication history display unit may include, as the component, process identification information included in the communication information from the communication history information
A process name converting means for converting into a process name, wherein the component starting means selects and starts the process name converting means when the control information specifies conversion of process identification information. To do.

According to the invention of claim 4, the communication history display means includes, as the component, process name conversion means for converting process identification information included in the communication information into a process name, and the component activation means. When the control information specifies conversion of process identification information, by selecting and activating the process name conversion unit, whether to display the process name according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus is determined. Since it is possible to select and perform the debugging work, it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first, third or fourth aspect, the communication history display means is included in the communication information from the communication history information as the component. Equipped with detailed information extraction means for extracting detailed information of a message or function,
The component activation means selects and activates the detailed information extraction means when detailed display information of a message or a function is designated to be displayed in the control information.

According to the invention of claim 5, the communication history display means includes, as the component, detailed information extracting means for extracting detailed information of a message or a function included in the communication information, and the component starting means When the detailed information of the message or the function is specified to be displayed in the control information, the detailed information extracting unit is selected and activated to display the detailed information of the message or the function according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus. Since debugging work can be performed by selecting whether or not to display, it is possible to reduce resources during debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 6 is the same as claim 1.
In the image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 5, the communication history display unit includes, as the component, a process progress information extraction unit that extracts a process generation and disappearance process from the communication history information, and the component The activating means selects and activates the process progress information extracting means when the generation and disappearance progress of the process is designated to be displayed in the control information.

According to the invention of claim 6, the communication history display means includes, as the component, process progress information extraction means for extracting the generation and disappearance progress of a process from the communication history information, and the component activation means is used. The process progress information extracting means is selected and activated when the control information specifies that the process progress and disappearance processes are to be displayed, so that the process generation and disappearance can be performed according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus. Since it is possible to perform the debugging work by selecting whether or not to display the progress, it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 7 is the same as claim 1.
In the image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 6, the communication history display unit converts the key identification information of the key event message included in the communication information from the communication history information into a key name on the operation panel as the component. It is characterized in that it comprises a key converting means, and the component starting means selects and starts the key converting means when a key name conversion is designated in the control information.

According to the invention of claim 7, the communication history display means, as the component, converts the key identification information of the key event message included in the communication history information into a key name in the operation panel. Means for selecting and activating the key conversion means when the control information specifies key name conversion by the component activation means,
Since the debugging work can be performed by selecting whether or not to display the key name according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 8 is the hardware resource used in the image forming process, an application for performing a process unique to the user service related to the image forming process, the application and the hardware resource. And a control service for performing acquisition request, management, execution control, and image forming processing of the hardware resources commonly required by at least two of the applications when providing the user service. The application and the control service each operate as a process, and are an image forming apparatus that provides the user service by performing inter-process communication. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of components that can be activated independently of each other. Control Based on the communication history display means for extracting the communication information of the inter-process communication by the service and displaying the extracted communication information together with the time information on the operation panel as the communication history display information, and the control information defining the communication information extraction condition. , One or a plurality of components necessary for displaying the extracted communication information are selected from the communication history display means, and the component activation means is activated for activating the selected component.

According to the invention of claim 8, the communication history display means is composed of a plurality of components that can be activated independently of each other, and the component activation means extracts the communication information based on the control information that defines the extraction condition of the communication information. Selecting one or more components required for displaying communication information from the communication history display means, activating the selected component, and extracting communication information of inter-process communication by the application or the control service, By displaying the extracted communication information together with the time information as communication history display information on the operation panel, it is possible to activate only the components required to display the communication information in cooperation with the control information. Reducing resources when debugging with the image forming device installed It is possible to achieve.

According to the invention of claim 8, the communication history display means directly extracts and displays the communication information from the process of the control service or the process of the application, so that the communication history can be displayed promptly. Therefore, the efficiency of debugging work can be improved.

The invention according to claim 9 provides the invention according to claim 8.
In the image forming apparatus described in paragraph 1, the communication history display means extracts, as the component, header information including a data type and process identification information of the communication information from a process of the application or a process of the control service. The component activating means selects and activates the header extracting means when the control information is set to display only the header information.

According to the invention of claim 9, the communication history display means, as the component, extracts the header information including the data type and the process identification information of the communication information from the process of the application or the process of the control service. A header extracting unit is provided, and when the component starting unit is set to display only the header information in the control information, by selecting and starting the header extracting unit, When the memory capacity is not sufficient, only the header of the communication information is displayed and the debugging work can be performed, so that it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 10 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the communication history display means converts the process of the application or the process of the control service into the communication information as the component. A message name / function name conversion means for converting the message / function identification information for identifying the included message or function into a message name or function name, wherein the component activation means converts the message / function identification information into the control information. When specified, the message name / function name conversion means is selected and activated.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the communication history display means, as the component, message / function identification information for identifying a message or function included in the communication information from the process of the application or the process of the control service. Is converted into a message name or a function name, and when the component activation means specifies conversion of the message / function identification information in the control information, the message name / function name is converted. By selecting and activating the name conversion means, it is possible to select whether to display the message name or the function name according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus for debugging work. Resources can be reduced.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eighth or tenth aspect, the communication history display means, as the component, from the process of the application or the process of the control service to the communication. Process name conversion means for converting process identification information included in information into a process name is provided, and the component activation means converts the process name when the control information specifies conversion of message / function identification information. It is characterized in that means is selected and activated.

According to the invention of claim 11, the communication history display means, as the component, converts the process identification information included in the communication information from the process of the application or the process of the control service into a process name. A process name conversion unit is provided, and when the component activation unit specifies conversion of message / function identification information in the control information, the process name conversion unit is selected and activated, thereby You can choose whether to display the process name according to the memory capacity for debugging work.
It is possible to reduce resources during debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eighth, tenth or eleventh aspect, the communication history display means is a component of the process of the application or the process of the control service. Detailed information extraction means for extracting detailed information of a message or function included in the communication information is provided, and the component starting means is configured to display the detailed information when detailed display information of the message or function is specified in the control information. It is characterized in that the information extracting means is selected and activated.

According to the invention of claim 12, the communication history display means, as the component, extracts detailed information of a message or a function included in the communication information from the process of the application or the process of the control service. Equipped with information extraction means,
When the detailed information of the message or the function is designated to be displayed in the control information by the component activation unit, the detailed information extraction unit is selected and activated, so that the message is displayed according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus. Alternatively, since it is possible to perform the debugging work by selecting whether to display the detailed information of the function, it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the eighth to twelfth aspects, the communication history display means, as the component, is a process of the application or the control service. Process progress information extraction means for extracting the generation and disappearance progress of the process from the process of, the component starting means, when the display designation of the generation and disappearance progress of the process is specified in the control information,
It is characterized in that the process progress information extracting means is selected and activated.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the communication history display means includes, as the component, process progress information extraction means for extracting generation and disappearance progress of a process from the process of the application or the process of the control service. According to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, the component activation unit selects and activates the process progress information extraction unit when the process information indicates the generation and disappearance process of the process. Since it is possible to perform the debugging work by selecting whether to display the generation and disappearance process of the process, it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 14 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the communication history display means, as the component, from the process of the application or the process of the control service to the communication. A key converting means for converting the key identification information of the key event message included in the information into a key name in the operation panel, and the component starting means, when the key name conversion is designated in the control information, The key conversion means is selected and activated.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the communication history display means, as the component, receives the key identification information of the key event message included in the communication information from the process of the application or the process of the control service as the operation. An image forming apparatus is provided with a key conversion unit for converting the key name in the panel, and when the component activation unit specifies the key name conversion in the control information, the key conversion unit is selected and activated. Since it is possible to perform the debugging work by selecting whether or not to display the key name according to the memory capacity of, it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourteenth aspects, the image forming apparatus further comprises a component activation application which is installed as the application and operates as the component activation means. It is characterized by that.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the component activation application installed as an application operates as the component activation means, and data transmission between the component activation application and the control service or the application is performed using interprocess communication. It is possible to reduce the development labor of the component activation application.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifteenth aspects, the communication history display means further displays the communication information to be displayed on the operation panel. It is characterized in that the data is transmitted to a management device which is connected to a network and manages a plurality of image forming devices.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the communication history display means further transmits the communication information displayed on the operation panel to a management device connected to the network and managing a plurality of image forming devices. Thus, the management device side can grasp the communication history of the image forming device, and can take appropriate measures for each image forming device based on the communication history.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the hardware resources used in the image forming process, the process of an application that performs a process unique to the user service related to the image forming process, the application and the hardware are provided. At least two of the applications that intervene between the resources and provide the user service.
Between the processes that display the communication history of the inter-process communication that is performed by the image forming apparatus that includes a control service process that performs acquisition request, management, execution control, and image forming processing of the hardware resources that all A communication history displaying method for extracting communication information from communication history information including communication information and time information of inter-process communication by the application or the control service, and displaying the extracted communication information on an operation panel Based on the display step and the control information defining the extraction condition of the communication information to be extracted from the communication history information, one or more components required for displaying the communication information to be extracted are selected and the selected component is activated. And a component starting step for executing.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the communication information is extracted from the communication history information including the communication information of the interprocess communication by the application or the control service and the time information, and the extracted communication information is displayed on the operation panel. On the basis of the communication history displaying step and the control information defining the extraction condition of the communication information to be extracted from the communication history information, one or more components necessary for displaying the communication information to be extracted are selected and selected. By including the component activation step of activating the above component, only the component necessary for displaying the communication information can be activated in cooperation with the control information, so that in an image forming apparatus equipped with a small capacity memory. It is possible to reduce resources during debugging work.

The invention according to claim 18 is the interprocess communication history display method according to claim 17, wherein the component starting step is set to display only the header information in the control information. When it is present, a header extracting means for extracting header information including the data type of the communication information and process identification information from the communication history information is selected and activated.

According to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention, in the component starting step, when the control information is set to display only the header information, the data of the communication information is obtained from the communication history information. By selecting and activating the header extraction means for extracting the header information including the type and process identification information, when the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus is not sufficient, only the header of the communication information can be displayed for debugging work. It is possible to reduce resources during debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 19 is the method for displaying communication history between processes according to claim 17, wherein the component activation step is performed when conversion of message / function identification information is designated in the control information. To
A message name / function name conversion means for converting the message / function identification information for identifying the message or function included in the communication information into the message name or function name from the communication history information is selected and activated.

According to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, in the component starting step, the message included in the communication information from the communication history information when the conversion designation of the message / function identification information is designated in the control information. Alternatively, by selecting and activating the message for identifying the function / the message / function name conversion means for converting the function / identification information into the message name or function name, the message name or function name can be displayed according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus. Since debugging work can be performed by selecting whether or not to display, it is possible to reduce resources during debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 20 is the method for displaying communication history between processes according to claim 17 or 19, wherein the component activation step is performed when conversion of process identification information is designated in the control information. Further, a process name conversion means for converting the process identification information included in the communication information from the communication history information into a process name is selected and activated.

According to the twentieth aspect of the invention, in the component starting step, the process identification information included in the communication information from the communication history information when the conversion identification of the process identification information is designated in the control information. By selecting and activating the process name conversion means for converting the process name into a process name, it is possible to select whether or not to display the process name according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus and perform debugging work. It is possible to reduce resources during debugging work in.

The invention according to claim 21 is the interprocess communication history display method according to claim 17, 19 or 20, wherein the component starting step specifies display of detailed information of a message or a function in the control information. The detailed information extracting means for extracting detailed information of a message or a function included in the communication information from the communication history information is selected and activated when the information is displayed.

According to the twenty-first aspect of the invention, in the component starting step, when the display of the detailed information of the message or the function is designated in the control information,
By selecting and activating a detailed information extraction unit that extracts detailed information of a message or function included in the communication information from the communication history information, detailed information of the message or function is displayed according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus. Since it is possible to perform the debugging work by selecting whether or not to do so, it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

Further, the invention according to claim 22 is the interprocess communication history display method according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the component starting step includes the process generation and disappearance progress in the control information. When the display is designated, the process progress information extracting means for extracting the generation and disappearance progress of the process from the communication history information is selected and activated.

According to the twenty-second aspect of the present invention, in the component starting step, when the process information indicates the generation and disappearance process of the process, the generation and disappearance process of the process is performed from the communication history information. By selecting and activating the process progress information extracting means for extracting the process progress information, it is possible to perform debugging work by selecting whether or not to display the progress and disappearance progress of the process according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus. It is possible to reduce resources during debugging work in the device.

The invention according to claim 23 is the method for displaying communication history between processes according to claims 17 to 22, wherein in the component starting step, when key name conversion is designated in the control information, It is characterized in that key conversion means for converting the key identification information of the key event message included in the communication information into the key name in the operation panel is selected and activated from the communication history information.

According to the twenty-third aspect of the present invention, in the component starting step, when the key name conversion is designated in the control information, the key of the key event message included in the communication information from the communication history information. By selecting and activating the key conversion means for converting the identification information into the key name on the operation panel, it is possible to select whether or not to display the key name according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus and perform the debugging work. Therefore, it is possible to reduce resources during debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, the hardware resources used in the image forming process, the process of an application which performs a process unique to the user service related to the image forming process, the application and the hardware are provided. At least two of the applications that intervene between the resources and provide the user service.
Between the processes that display the communication history of the inter-process communication that is performed by the image forming apparatus that includes a control service process that performs acquisition request, management, execution control, and image forming processing of the hardware resources that all A communication history display method, which extracts communication information of inter-process communication by the application or the control service, and displays the extracted communication information together with time information on the operation panel as communication history display information, A component starting step of selecting one or more components necessary for displaying the communication information to be extracted based on the control information defining the extraction condition of the communication information, and activating the selected component. Characterize.

According to the invention of claim 24, the communication for extracting the communication information of the inter-process communication by the application or the control service and displaying the extracted communication information together with the time information on the operation panel as the communication history display information. A history display step, based on the control information that defines the extraction condition of the communication information, selects one or more components necessary for displaying the communication information to be extracted, and a component starting step that starts the selected component, By including the above, it is possible to start only the components required for displaying communication information in cooperation with the control information, so it is possible to reduce resources during debugging work in an image forming apparatus equipped with a small capacity memory. You can

According to the invention of claim 24, since the communication information is directly extracted and displayed from the process of the control service or the process of the application in the communication history display step, the communication history can be displayed promptly. Therefore, the efficiency of debugging work can be improved.

The invention according to claim 25 is the interprocess communication history display method according to claim 24, wherein the component starting step is set to display only the header information in the control information. When it is present, a header extracting means for extracting header information including the data type of the communication information and the process identification information is selected and activated from the process of the application or the process of the control service.

According to the twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, in the component starting step, the process of the application or the process of the control service is set when the control information is set to display only the header information. By selecting and activating the header extracting means for extracting the header information including the data type of the communication information and the process identification information from the display, only the header of the communication information is displayed when the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus is insufficient. Since the debugging work can be performed, it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

In the invention according to claim 26, in the interprocess communication history display method according to claim 24, when the component activation step specifies conversion of message / function identification information in the control information. To
A message name / function name conversion means for converting message / function identification information for identifying a message or function included in the communication information from the application process or the control service process into a message name or function name is selected and activated. It is characterized by doing.

According to the twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, in the component starting step, when conversion control of message / function identification information is designated in the control information, the process of the application or the process of the control service is performed. Depending on the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, by selecting and activating the message name / function name conversion means for converting the message / function identification information that identifies the message or function included in the communication information into the message name or function name. Since the debugging work can be performed by selecting whether or not to display the message name and the function name by the user, it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

Further, in the invention according to claim 27, in the interprocess communication history display method according to claim 24 or 26, in the component starting step, conversion of message / function identification information is designated in the control information. The process name conversion means for converting the process identification information included in the communication information into the process name from the process of the application or the process of the control service is selected and activated.

According to the twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, in the component starting step, when conversion of message / function identification information is designated in the control information, the process of the application or the process of the control service is performed. By selecting and activating the process name conversion means that converts the process identification information included in the communication information into the process name, it is possible to debug by selecting whether to display the process name according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus. Since the work can be performed, it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 28 is the interprocess communication history display method according to claim 24, 26 or 27, wherein the component starting step specifies display of detailed information of a message or a function in the control information. The detailed information extracting means for extracting detailed information of a message or a function included in the communication information from the process of the application or the process of the control service is selected and activated.

According to the twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, in the component starting step, when the display of the detailed information of the message or the function is designated in the control information,
By selecting and activating detailed information extracting means for extracting detailed information of a message or a function included in the communication information from the process of the application or the process of the control service, the message or the message is output according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus. Since debugging work can be performed by selecting whether or not to display detailed information of the function, it is possible to reduce resources during debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 29 is the interprocess communication history display method according to any one of claims 24 to 28, wherein the component starting step includes the generation and disappearance process of the process in the control information. Is displayed, the process progress information extracting means for extracting the generation and disappearance process of the process from the process of the application or the process of the control service is selected and activated.

According to the twenty-ninth aspect of the invention, the component starting step is performed from the process of the application or the process of the control service when the process information designates the process generation and disappearance progress display. By selecting and activating the process progress information extraction means for extracting the generation and disappearance process of the process, it is possible to select whether or not to display the generation and disappearance process of the process according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus and perform debugging work. Therefore, it is possible to reduce resources during debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

According to a thirtieth aspect of the present invention, in the interprocess communication history display method according to the twenty-fourth to twenty-ninth aspects, in the component starting step, when key name conversion is designated in the control information, A key conversion means for converting the key identification information of the key event message included in the communication information into a key name in the operation panel from the application process or the control service process is selected and activated.

According to the thirtieth aspect of the present invention, the component starting step includes in the communication information from the process of the application or the process of the control service when the key name conversion is designated in the control information. By selecting and activating the key conversion means for converting the key identification information of the key event message to the key name on the operation panel, it is possible to select whether to display the key name according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus. Since the debugging work can be performed in this manner, it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

According to a thirty-first aspect of the present invention, in the inter-process communication history display method according to the seventeenth to thirtieth aspects, the communication history display step further includes transmitting the communication information displayed on the operation panel to a network. It is characterized in that the data is transmitted to a management device that is connected and manages a plurality of image forming devices.

According to the thirty-first aspect of the present invention, in the communication history display step, the communication information displayed on the operation panel is transmitted to a management device connected to the network and managing a plurality of image forming devices. As a result, the management apparatus can grasp the communication history of the image forming apparatus, and can take appropriate measures for each image forming apparatus based on the communication history.

The invention according to claim 32 is a program for causing a computer to execute the method described in any one of claims 17 to 31,
The operation of any one of 31 can be executed by a computer.

[0077]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of an image forming apparatus, an interprocess communication history display method and a program for causing a computer to execute the method will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. .

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a "multi-function peripheral") according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction peripheral 100 is a black and white line printer (B & W L
P) 101 and color line printer (Color LP) 10
2, a hard disk (HD) 103, a hardware resource 104 such as a scanner, a facsimile, a memory, and a network interface, and a software group 110 including a platform 120 and an application 130.

The platform 120 interprets a processing request from the application 130 and generates a hardware resource acquisition request, and manages one or a plurality of hardware resources, and arbitrates the acquisition request from the control service. The system resource manager (SRM) 123, the general-purpose OS 121, and the communication history generation unit 117 are included.

The control service is composed of a plurality of service modules, and includes an SCS (system control service) 122, an ECS (engine control service) 124, an MCS (memory control service) 125, and an OCS (operation panel control service) 126. And an FCS (fax control service) 127 and an NCS (network control service) 128. The platform 120 has an application program interface (API) capable of receiving a processing request from the application 130 by a predefined function.

The general-purpose OS 121 is UNIX (registered trademark)
Is a general-purpose operating system, and executes each software of the platform 120 and the application 130 as processes in parallel.

The process of SRM123 is SCS122.
It also controls the system and manages resources. The process of the SRM 123 includes an engine such as a scanner unit and a printer unit, a memory, an HDD file, a host I / O (Centro I / F, a network I / F, an I / F).
(EEE1394 I / F, RS232C I / F, etc.)
It arbitrates and controls execution according to the request from the upper layer that uses the hardware resource of.

Specifically, the SRM 123 determines whether the requested hardware resource is available (whether it is not used by another request), and if it is available, the requested hardware resource is available. Tell upper layers that resources are available. Further, the SRM 123 performs hardware resource utilization scheduling in response to a request from the upper layer, and directly executes the request content (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation by the printer engine, memory reservation, file generation, etc.). .

The process of SCS122 is application management,
It controls the operation unit, system screen display, LED display, resource management, interrupt application control, etc.

The process of the ECS 124 includes a monochrome line printer (B & W LP) 101 and a color line printer (Colo).
r LP) 102, scanner, facsimile, and other hardware resources 104 that control the engine.

The process of the MCS 125 performs acquisition and release of an image memory, use of a hard disk device (HDD), compression and expansion of image data, and the like.

The FCS 127 process includes facsimile transmission / reception using the PSTN / ISDN network from each application layer of the system controller, and BKM (backup SRA).
Registration of various facsimile data managed in M) /
Quotation, fax reading, fax reception printing,
Provides an API for performing fusion transmission / reception.

The NCS 128 process is a process for providing a service that can be commonly used for applications that require network I / O. Data received by each protocol from the network side is distributed to each application, It mediates when data is transmitted from the application 130 to the network side. Specifically, ftpd, httpd, lpd, snmpd, tel
It has server daemons such as netd and smtpd, and client functions of the same protocol.

The OCS 126 controls an operation panel (operation panel) which serves as a means for transmitting information between the operator (user) and the main body control. The OCS 126 obtains the key press as a key event from the operation panel, and the SCS obtains the key event function corresponding to the obtained key.
The part of the OCS process to be transmitted to 122 and the part of the OCS library in which a drawing function for drawing and outputting various screens to the operation panel in response to a request from the application 130 or the control service and other functions for controlling the operation panel are registered in advance. Composed of. This OCS library is mounted by being linked to each module of the application 130, the control service, and the display processing unit described later. It should be noted that all of the OCS 126 may be configured to operate as a process, or the OCS 12
All 6 may be configured as an OCS library.

The application 130 is a page description language (PDL), PCL and Postscript (PS).
A printer application 111 having a printer application, a copy application 112 having a copy application, a fax application 113 having a facsimile application, a scanner application 114 having a scanner application, and a network file application having a network application. It has a file application 115, a process inspection application 116 that is a process inspection application, and a component activation application 118 that selects and activates a component that is executed to display a communication log file on the operation panel. Each of these applications 130 is generated and operated as a process by an initialization unit (not shown) when the multifunction peripheral 100 is activated.

A logging handler is provided for each application 130 and each control service except the component activation application 118. When this process receives data such as messages and function calls from other processes, this logging handler writes the received data to the shared memory secured for each process before executing the processing according to the received data. Perform processing.

The communication history generation section 117 operates as a process in the control service layer, and the application 1
30 and the reception data written in the shared memory by the control service, a communication log file in which the reception data is recorded is generated. Here, the communication log file constitutes the communication history information in the present invention.

As described above, the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the first embodiment has the plurality of applications 130 and the plurality of control services, and all of them operate as processes. Inside each of these processes, one or more threads are generated and parallel execution is performed in thread units. The control service provides a common service to the application 130. Therefore, a large number of these processes perform a parallel operation and a parallel operation of threads to cooperate with each other while performing copying, printer, scanner, User services related to image forming processing such as facsimile are provided.

Further, in the multifunction machine 100, a third party such as a third vendor can develop and mount a new application in the application layer above the control service layer.

The multifunction peripheral 100 according to the first embodiment
In the above, the processes of the plurality of applications 130 and the processes of the plurality of control services are operating, but it is also possible that each of the processes of the application 130 and the control service has a single configuration. Further, the application 130 does not exist at all, only the control service process, the general-purpose OS 121 and the hardware resources are provided, and
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a new application can be installed via the network via the network connected by the CS128. In addition, each application 130
Can be added or removed for each application.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the multifunction peripheral 100 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the multifunction peripheral 100 includes a CPU 202 and an SDRAM 2
03, SRAM 208, flash memory (flash ROM) 204, flash card interface unit 2
06 and HD 103, etc. controller board 200 connected to ASIC 201, and operation panel 2
10 and fax control unit (FCU) 2
20, a USB 230, an IEEE1394 240, and a printer 250. The operation panel 210 is directly connected to the ASIC 201, and the FCU2
20, the USB 230, the IEEE1394 240 and the printer 250 are connected to the ASIC 201 via the PCI bus.

Flash card interface unit 206
Is an interface for inserting the flash card 207 and exchanging data with the flash card 207. The flash card 2 that records a control file that sets extraction conditions for information to be extracted from the communication log file by the flash card interface unit 206.
07 can be read. In addition,
This control file constitutes the control information in the present invention,
The flash card 207 and the flash card interface unit 206 constitute the storage means in the present invention.

The flash ROM 204 stores programs for each control service, each application 130, the communication history generation unit 117, and the component activation application 118 and other units that constitute the communication history display unit 308 described later.

In the SDRAM 203, for each application 130 and each control service, these processes and the process of the communication history generation unit 117 are
A shared memory that is accessed when transmitting and receiving communication information (received data) is secured.

In the HD 103, a communication log file composed of received data (communication information) of the application 130 and the control service is generated by the communication history generation unit 117.

The operation panel 210 is composed of an operation section for inputting a key operation such as a user's key input and button depression, and a display section for displaying drawing data such as buttons, windows and various screens.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a process for executing communication log file generation and communication history display. Note that FIG. 3 shows the copy application 112 and the MC.
The communication log file 305 is obtained from the received data by the inter-process communication of each process for each of S125.
Is generated and displayed on the operation panel 210. The control service, the application 130, the communication history generation unit 117, and the component activation application 118 are read from the flash ROM 204 and executed as processes on the SDRAM 203 by an initialization unit (not shown) when the multifunction peripheral 100 is activated. It

As shown in FIG. 3, a logging handler 301 is activated inside the process of the copy application 112 and the process of the MCS 125. This logging handler 301 analyzes the setting contents of the control file 304, and when the own process is the target, receives the data received by inter-process communication and stores it in the FIFO of the shared memory for each process.
Stored in the O queue 303.

The communication history generation unit 117 reads the control file 304 input by the user using the flash card 207 inserted in the flash card interface unit 206, and secures the shared memory 302 in the SDRAM 203 for each target process for acquiring received data. And
A FIFO (First-In First-Out) queue 303 for storing data received by a process of the control service or application 130 in each shared memory 302
To generate. The FIFO queue 303 can read the received data from each process in the order of storage. Since the shared memory 302 is generated for each process in this way, it is possible to easily determine the process from which the received data is written.

Further, the communication history generation unit 117 refers to the FIFO queue 303 in each shared memory 302 at regular intervals to check whether or not the received data is stored. Then, if the received data is stored in the FIFO queue 303, the received data is read and
The communication log file 305 is generated in D103.

Next, the control file 304 will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the contents of the control file 304 used in the multi-function peripheral 100 according to the first embodiment. In addition,
The control file 304 is thus the flash card 2
The general-purpose OS 121 of the HD 103 is recorded on the HD 07 via a network such as a remote PC or by a user's input operation from the operation panel 210.
It may be configured to be generated and stored in the system directory of.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control file 304
Is an “acquisition control” block in which the reception timing of the reception data is set by the communication history generation unit 117, and the operation panel 21 of the communication history by the communication history display unit 308.
It is composed of a "display control" block in which the display content to 0 is set.

As shown in FIG. 4, the "acquisition control" block in the control file 304 acquires the received data and the "polling interval" field for designating the access timing of the shared memory 302 by the communication history generation unit 117. A “target process” field that specifies a target process to be executed, a “process creation / disappearance information output interval” field that specifies a timing at which the shared memory 302 is accessed to obtain process creation and deletion information,
A "process name / process ID correspondence information output interval" field that specifies the timing to access the shared memory 302 to obtain the correspondence information between the process name and process ID, and a "communication log that specifies the maximum size of the communication log file 305" It consists of the Maximum file size field. Here, the process ID is identification information unique to each process and constitutes the process identification information in the present invention.

The "target process" field further holds the name of the target process (for example, copy application, MCS, etc. as shown in FIG. 4), and the share secured for the process of the specified application or control service. The shared memory key ID for identifying the memory 302 and the size of the secured shared memory 302 for communication control are designated.

The display control block of the control file 304 has a "message / function" block for designating the display contents of the message / function and whether or not to display the progress of process creation and deletion (ON: display, OFF: "Process creation / disappearance" block that specifies (do not display),
The operation panel 210 includes a "key operation" block for designating whether or not to display the progress of the user's key operation on the operation panel 210 (ON: display, OFF: not display).

The "message / function" block further specifies whether to display only the header of the message / function ("0") or all the information of the message / function ("1") on the operation panel 210. The "header" field that specifies whether to convert the message ID into the message name and the function ID into the function name when displaying the message or function (ON: convert, OFF: not convert)・ Function name conversion field and process ID when displaying a message or function
Whether to convert to process name (ON: convert, OF
F: Do not convert) "Process name conversion" field and "Message / function detailed information" to specify whether to display message detailed information or function detailed information (ON: display, OFF: not display) It consists of fields and. Here, the message ID is an identification number unique to each message, and the function ID is an identification number unique to each function. The message ID and the function ID constitute the message / function identification information in the present invention.

The "process creation / destruction" block specifies whether or not to convert the process ID into a process name (ON: convert, OFF: not convert) when displaying the progress of process generation and deletion. It has a "process name conversion" field.

In FIG. 3, the HD 103 has a communication log file 30 generated by the communication history generation unit 117.
5, a log display file 306 temporarily generated for display on the operation panel 210 by the communication history display unit 308, and various data files 307 are stored. The various data files 307 include an API sort data file, a PID / process name correspondence data file, a process creation / destruction data file, a structure definition data file, a key conversion data file, and a message conversion data file. Details of each data file will be described later.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of each packet forming the communication log file 305. Figure 5
5A is a data structure diagram of an API data packet, FIG. 5B is a data structure diagram of a process ID / process name correspondence data packet, and FIG. 5C is a data structure diagram of a process progress data packet. Is.

As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the head field of each packet is an identifier field indicating the type of packet, and the identifier field of the API data packet is "API" and the process ID. The identifier of the data packet corresponding to the process name is "INFO", the identifier field of the process progress data packet indicating the generation of the process is "NEW", and the identifier field of the process progress data packet indicating the disappearance of the process is "DE".
L ”.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the API data packet has an identifier field followed by a receiving process ID.
Has a field. In this reception process ID field, the process ID of the process that received the message or function call is set.

In the time field, the elapsed time from the start of the acquisition of the interprocess communication information by the multifunction peripheral 100 is recorded. The time field of the API data packet records the elapsed time when each process receives a message or function call.

The API data packet further has fields of data type, data length, transmission process ID, and unique data. Here, the fields of data type, data length, and transmission process ID serve as header information. A message ID or function ID is stored in the data type field. The process ID of the process that originated the message or function is stored in the transmission process ID field. Specific message data or function data is stored in the unique data field. The API data packet uses the data from the time field to the unique data field as API data of one message or function, and the data delimiter (0
It has a packet configuration in which a plurality of communication data are concatenated by being separated by xfe). Since one receiving process ID is assigned to the entire packet, the API data packet is composed of API data received by one process. Note that 0xff is a packet delimiter indicating a packet delimiter, and is the same in FIGS. 5B and 5C. The API data constitutes the communication information in the present invention.

The API data also includes a key event message as a message. In the case of a key event message, the unique code stores a key code and numerical data corresponding to ON and OFF indicating a key pressing condition described later.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the process ID
The process name correspondence data packet has fields of time, process ID and process name following the identifier field. In the time field, the above elapsed time when the communication history generation unit 117 of the multifunction peripheral 100 acquires each data from the shared memory is recorded. The process ID field stores a process ID that is process identification information of a process operating in the multifunction peripheral 100, and the process name field stores a process name corresponding to the process ID.

As shown in FIG. 5C, the process progress data packet has an identifier field, a time field, and a process ID field in which the process ID of the created or deleted process is stored. Also in this time field, the communication history generation unit 117 of the multifunction peripheral 100
The above elapsed time when each data is acquired from the shared memory is recorded.

The API sort data file in the various data files 307 is a data file in which API data is sorted in time series based on the contents of the time field, and is generated from the communication log file 305 by the API data processing unit 309. .

PID in various data files 307
The process name correspondence data file is a data file in which a process ID and a process name are associated with each other, and is generated from the communication log file 305 by the process name conversion unit 312. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the PID / process name correspondence data file. As shown in FIG. 6, each process ID is associated with a process name of an application or a control service and recorded in a table format.

The process generation / destruction data file in the various data files 307 is a data file recording the progress of generation and disappearance of processes, and is generated from the communication log file 305 by the process progress processing unit 314. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the process generation / destruction data file. In FIG. 7, each process I
D is recorded by being classified into “generation” and “disappearance”.
The process ID classified as “generation” is the multifunction device 100.
The process IDs classified as “disappeared” indicate processes that have disappeared in the multi-function peripheral 100.

The message conversion data file in the various data files 307 is an XML in which a message ID and a message name are associated with a function ID and a function name.
It is a file of a format and is created in the HD 103 in advance. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the message conversion data file. In FIG. 8, <server
In the> tag, a process name that provides a message transmission or a function is described. Then, as shown in FIG.
For each block of the server> tag, <messag
The e> tag describes the correspondence between the message ID and the message name, and the function ID and the function ID.
That is, the message ID or function ID is specified in the "type" of the <message> tag, and the "string"
The message name or function name corresponding to the message ID or function ID specified by "type" is specified in "g".

The structure definition data file in the various data files 307 is a file that defines the structure contents of the message and function structures, and the structure contents of each structure are the messages or function of the message to which the structure corresponds. Corresponds to unique data. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the structure definition data file.

In FIG. 9, the setting contents of "Name" in the <structure> tag indicate the structure name and "ms".
The setting content of "g" indicates the message name or the function name. In addition, one or more <member> tags describe the members of the structure (the setting contents of "Name" is the member name, the setting contents of "Type" is the data type, etc.) in the block of the <structure> tag. is doing.

The key conversion data file in the various data files 307 is a file for converting detailed data of a key event into a character string. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the key conversion data file 116.

In FIG. 10, <key_press>
The tag defines the character string of the key press condition, and "Val
When ue = 1 "," Description = "ON"
ON state with, and when "Value = 0", "Descr"
The OFF state is indicated by option = “OFF”.

In the <Key_type> tag, the key type code and the character string are associated with each other. The key type is a HARD key (a key existing as hardware in the multifunction device) or a TOUCH key (a key drawn as a touch panel key on the display unit of the operation panel of the multifunction device 100). According to the <Key_type> tag of FIG. 10, when “Value = 1”, “Descript
the HARD key with "tion =" HARD "," Value
When e = 0 "," Description = "TOUC
H ”indicates the TOUCH key.

In the <Key_button> tag, the key code of the button and the character string of the key name are associated with each other.
Here, the key code is identification information unique to each key and constitutes the key identification information in the present invention. In the example of FIG. 10, the key code 0 is associated with the button having the key name “0” as the button of the HARD key, and the key code 101 is the key name “O” as the button of the TOUCH key.
It is associated with the "K" button.

Next, the communication history display section 308 will be described. In FIG. 3, the communication history display unit 308 is an API.
The data processing unit 309, the header extraction unit 310, the message name / function name conversion unit 311, and the process name conversion unit 31.
2, a message / function detail processing unit 313, a process progress processing unit 314, a key name conversion unit 315, and a display processing unit 316. Here, the communication history display unit 3
Reference numeral 08 denotes communication history display means in the present invention, header extraction section 310 is header extraction means in the present invention, message name / function name conversion section 311 is message name / function name conversion means in the present invention, and process name conversion section 312. Is the process name conversion means of the present invention, the message function detail processing section 313 is the detailed information extraction means of the present invention, the process progress processing section 314 is the process progress information extraction means of the present invention, and the key name conversion section 315 is the present invention. And key conversion means in each.

Also, the API data processing unit 309, the header extraction unit 310, the message name / function name conversion unit 311, the process name conversion unit 312, and the message / function detail processing unit 3
13, process progress processing unit 314, key name conversion unit 315
Is selected by the component activation application 118 according to the setting contents of the control file 304, and flash R
It is read from the OM 204 and activated. Therefore, in FIG. 3, these components are indicated by dotted lines.

The component activation application 118 reads the control file 304, checks the setting contents thereof, and executes the API data processing unit 309, the header extraction unit 310,
A component to be activated is selected from the message name / function name conversion unit 311, the process name conversion unit 312, the message / function detail processing unit 313, the process progress processing unit 314, and the key name conversion unit 315, and the selected component is selected. To start. This component startup application 118
Constitutes the component starting means in the present invention.

The API data processing unit 309 sorts the API data in the communication log file 305 in chronological order to generate an API sort data file in the HD 103. Further, the API data processing unit 309 creates the log display file 306 in the HD 103 and writes the start record.

The header extraction unit 310 extracts the header information including the data type, source process ID, and data length from the API sort data file and writes it in the log display file 306.

The message name / function name conversion unit 311 uses A
The message ID and the function ID included in the API data of the PI sort data file are converted into corresponding message names or function names by referring to the message conversion data file, and are written in the log display file 306.

The process name conversion unit 312 reads all the process ID / process name correspondence data packets forming the communication log file 305, and extracts the process ID / process name pairs contained in each packet together with the contents of the time field. Then, a table-format PID / process name correspondence data file is generated in the HD 103. Then, the process name conversion unit 312 converts the reception process ID and the transmission process ID included in the API data of the API sort data file into corresponding process names by referring to the PID / process name correspondence data file, and the log A process of writing to the display file 306 is performed.

The message / function detail processing unit 313 refers to the structure definition file, and details information in which the unique data included in the API data of the API sort data file and the structure corresponding to the message or function are associated with each other. Is written in the log display file 306.

The process progress processing unit 314 generates a process generation / destruction data file in the HD 103, which records the progress of generation and depletion of a process from the PID / process name correspondence data packet of the communication log file 305, and creates the PID / process. A process of writing the contents of the name correspondence data file into the log display file 306 is performed.

The key name conversion unit 315 extracts the key event message from the API sort data file, converts the key code included in the key event into the key name by referring to the key conversion data file, and outputs the log display file 3
The processing of writing in 06 is performed.

The display processing unit 316 performs processing for displaying the contents of the log display file 306 generated on the HD 103 on the operation panel 210. Display processing unit 316
Is linked with the OCS library 317 that has registered a drawing function for drawing character data and image data on the operation panel 210. Therefore, the display processing unit 316 calls the drawing function to cause the log display file 306 to be displayed. Is displayed on the operation panel 210. In addition, the display processing unit 316
The log display file 306 is transmitted to the NCS 128, so that the PC (Pe
rsonal Computer) and other client terminals for debugging work, and remote centralized management equipment connected to networks such as public lines. In addition, the transmission process is performed by FTP.
This is performed by the NCS 128 by file transfer or electronic mail using a protocol such as.

Each component of the communication history generation unit 117, the component activation application 118, and the communication history display unit 308 is generated and executed in the SDRAM 203 when the interprocess communication history display program is executed. This interprocess communication history display program is a software development kit (SDK: Software De
The development tool kit (such as a development kit) is provided as a part or all of a development tool kit in a file in an executable format or an installable format on a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or an FD. Further, such an executable file or installable file may be provided by a method that can be acquired via a network.

Next, the first embodiment configured as described above
The communication history generation process of the inter-process communication by the multi-function peripheral 100 will be described. The communication history generation unit 117
The control file 304 is read at the time of startup, and the shared memory 30 is set for each process of the control service and application 130 set as the target process.
2 is secured on the SDRAM 203.

On the other hand, the process of each application 130 and each control service refers to the control file 304 at the time of its activation, and activates the logging handler 301 if its own process is set as the target process. Then, by the logging handler 301, received data such as messages and function calls by inter-process communication are sequentially transferred to the FIFO queue 3 of the shared memory 302 together with the elapsed time from the start time of communication history acquisition.
Written in 03.

On the other hand, the communication history generator 117 stores the control file 304 in the FIFO queue 303 of the shared memory 302.
Access every polling interval set in
It is determined whether or not the reception data is stored in the FIFO queue 303. If the received data is stored, the communication log file 305 in which the received data is recorded in the API data packet format is generated in the HD 103.

Further, the communication history generation unit 117 investigates the currently operating process at each time of the process name / process ID correspondence information output interval set in the control file 304, and determines the process ID of the operating process. In association with the process name, the process ID / process name correspondence data packet is written in the communication log file 305 together with the elapsed time from the start of communication history acquisition. Furthermore, the communication history generation unit 117 investigates a process that is operating at each time of the process generation / destruction information output interval set in the control file 304, and records the process generation state and disappearance state together with the elapsed time. The progress data packet is written in the communication log file 305. In this way, the communication log file 305 having the format shown in FIG. 5 is generated.

Next, the communication history display processing based on the setting contents of the display control blocks of the communication log file 305 to the control file 304 will be described. In the communication history display process, first, the component activation application 118 selects and activates a component. 11 and 12 are flowcharts showing the procedure of component selection and activation processing by the component activation application 118.

The component activation application 118 first reads the control file 304 (step S110).
1), the display designation of "message / function" is determined (step S1102). When the "message / function" is ON, the API data processing unit 309 is selected (step S1103).

Next, the designation of the "header" of the control file 304 is judged (step S1104). If the "header" is set to "header only", the header extraction unit 310 is selected (step S110).
5). On the other hand, when "all" is set in the "header", the setting content of "message name / function name conversion" in the control file 304 is determined (step S110).
6). If the "message name / function name conversion" setting is ON, the message name / function name conversion unit 311 is selected (step S1107).

Next, the setting contents of "process name conversion" in the control file 304 are judged (step S1108).
When the setting of "process name conversion" is ON, the process name conversion unit 312 is selected (step S1109). Then, "message / function details" of the control file 304
(Step S1110), and if ON is set, the message / function detail processing unit 3
13 is selected (step S1111).

Next, the setting contents of "process creation / deletion" in the control file 304 are judged (step S111).
2) If ON is set, the process progress processing unit 314 is selected (step S1113). The setting contents of "process creation / deletion" are judged (step S11).
14) If ON is set, the setting content of "process name conversion" in the "process creation / deletion" block is further determined. And "Process name conversion" is O
In the case of N, the process name conversion unit 312 is further selected (step S1115).

Next, "key operation" of the control file 304
(Step S1116), and if ON is set, the API data processing unit 309 and the key name conversion unit 315 are selected (step S1117).
Then, finally, the currently selected component is activated (step S1118), whereby the communication history display processing is performed.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the setting contents in the display control block of the control file 304 and the components activated by the component activation application 118.

FIG. 14 shows the communication history display section 308 when the control file 304 has the setting contents shown in FIG.
It is a block diagram showing the starting state of the component.
In the example of the control file 304 in FIG. 4, in the “message / function” block, the header designation is “all”, “message name / function name conversion” and “process name conversion” are ON, and “message / function detailed information” is set. "Is set to OFF," process creation / disappearance "is set to OFF, and" key operation "is set to ON, the communication history display unit 308
The components activated by the component activation application 118 are API data processing unit 309, message name / function name conversion unit 310, and process name conversion unit 3.
12 and the key name conversion unit 315.

When each component selected by the component activation application 118 is activated, the processing by each component is executed. That is, the API data processing unit 309 sorts the API data in the communication log file 305 in chronological order to generate an API sort data file in the HD 103 and a log display file 306 in the HD 103. The header extraction unit 310
Header information is extracted from the API sort data file and written in the log display file 306.

In the message name / function name conversion unit 311,
All message IDs and function IDs in the API data of the API sort data file are converted into message names or function names by referring to the message conversion data file and written in the log display file 306.

The process name conversion unit 312 reads all the process ID / process name correspondence data packets forming the communication log file 305, and extracts the process ID / process name pairs contained in each packet together with the contents of the time field. Then, a PID / process name correspondence data file is generated in the HD 103. Then, all the reception process IDs and transmission process IDs in the sorted API data of the API sort data file are set to PI
D-The process name corresponding data file is referred to, converted into the corresponding process name, and written in the log display file 306.

In the message / function detail processing section 313,
By referring to the structure definition file, detailed information in which the unique data included in the API data of the API sort data file and the structure corresponding to the message or function are associated with each other is written in the log display file 306.

The process progress processing unit 314 extracts all correspondences between the process ID and the process name from the PID / process name correspondence data packet of the communication log file 305, and extracts the PID / process name correspondence data file from the HD 10
3 is generated and the contents of the PID / process name correspondence data file are written in the log display file 306.

The key name conversion unit 315 extracts the key event message from the API sort data file, converts the key code in the key event message into the key name by referring to the key conversion data file, and displays the log display file 306. Write in.

Then, the log display file 306 thus generated is displayed on the operation panel 210 by the display processing unit 316. Furthermore, the display processing unit 3
16 transmits a log display file 306 to the NCS 128, and thereby a client terminal for debugging work such as a PC (Personal Computer) connected to a network such as a LAN and a remote centralized management device connected to a network such as a public line. Send to.

15 to 18 show examples of displaying the communication history on the operation panel 210. FIG. 15A shows a display example in the case of a message / function, in which each conversion designation of a message name / function name and a process name is made. In FIG. 15B, only the header is designated. It is a display example when there is. FIG. 16 is a display example of message / function detailed information. FIG. 17 is a display example of a key operation. FIG. 18 is a display example when process name conversion is designated in the process generation / destruction process.

As described above, in the multifunction peripheral 100 of the first embodiment, the communication history display unit 308 is the API data processing unit 30.
9, a header extraction unit 310, a message name / function name conversion unit 311, a process name conversion unit 312, a message / function detail processing unit 313, a process progress processing unit 314, and a key name conversion unit 315. Control file 3 that can be started and that defines the extraction conditions from the communication log file 305 by the component start application 118
On the basis of the setting contents of 04, the component necessary for displaying the information to be extracted is selected from each of the above parts, the selected component is activated, various information is extracted from the communication log file 305, and displayed on the operation panel 210. Therefore, only the components necessary for displaying the communication history such as communication information can be activated in cooperation with the control file 304, and the multifunction peripheral 10 equipped with a small capacity memory is installed.
It is possible to reduce resources during debugging work in 0.

(Second Embodiment) In the multi-function peripheral 100 according to the first embodiment, the communication log generation unit 117 obtains the received data from each process to obtain the communication log file 305.
Although the history to be displayed is extracted and displayed from the communication log file 305 based on the control file 304 after the generation, the multifunction machine 1900 according to the second embodiment acquires the reception data from each process. The operation panel 210 is immediately extracted by extracting the history to be displayed at the stage.
Is to be displayed.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of the multifunction machine 1 according to the second embodiment.
3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of 900. FIG. The multifunction machine 1900 according to the second embodiment is the multifunction machine 1 of the first embodiment.
00 is that the communication history generation unit 117 is not provided, and other functional configurations and hardware configurations are the same as those of the multi-function peripheral 100 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing the overall structure of a process for executing communication history display. As shown in FIG. 20, in the multi-function peripheral 1900 according to the second embodiment, the communication history display unit 2008 accesses the FIFO queue 303 of the shared memory 302 to acquire the reception data of each process. Further, the communication log file is not generated in the HD 103, and the communication history display unit 2008 extracts the received data after extracting it from the shared memory and generates the log display file 306 to generate the operation panel 21.
It is supposed to be displayed at 0.

Here, the reception data is stored in each shared memory 302 in the format of each data packet of FIG. 5 described in the first embodiment. The processing of the logging handler 301, the setting contents of the control file 304, the log display file 306, and the various data files 307 are the same as those of the multifunction peripheral 100 of the first embodiment.

The communication history display unit 2008 includes an API data processing unit 2009, a header extraction unit 2010, a message name / function name conversion unit 2011, and a process name conversion unit 20.
12, a message / function detail processing unit 2013, a process progress processing unit 2014, a key name conversion unit 2015,
The display processing unit 2016 is included. Where API
Data processing unit 2009, header extraction unit 2010, message name / function name conversion unit 2011, process name conversion unit 20
12, the message / function detail processing unit 2013, the process progress processing unit 2014, and the key name conversion unit 2015 are selected by the component activation application 118 according to the setting contents of the control file 304, as in the multi-function peripheral 100 of the first embodiment. It is read from the flash ROM 204 and activated.

The API data processing unit 2009 sets the control file 304 at the polling intervals set by
The FIFO queue 303 of the shared memory 302 is accessed to check whether or not the API data packet is stored. If the API data packet is stored, the API data is sorted in chronological order and the API sort data file is stored in HD1.
To generate 03. In addition, the API data processing unit 2009
Creates a log display file 306 in the HD 103 and writes a start record.

The header extraction unit 2010 uses the API sort data file to determine the data type, the source process ID,
A process of extracting the header information including the data length and writing it in the log display file 306 is performed.

The message name / function name conversion unit 2011
The message ID and the function ID included in the API data of the API sort data file are referred to the message conversion data file, converted into corresponding message names or function names, and written in the log display file 306.

The process name conversion unit 2012 accesses the FIFO queue 303 of the shared memory 302 at every time set by the PID / process name correspondence information output interval of the control file 304 to store the PID / process name correspondence data packet. Check whether all the stored process IDs are stored.
The process name corresponding data packet is read, and the process ID and process name pair contained in each packet is extracted together with the contents of the time field, and the PID
A process name corresponding data file is generated in the HD 103. Then, the process name conversion unit 2012 converts the reception process ID and the transmission process ID included in the API data of the API sort data file into corresponding process names by referring to the PID / process name correspondence data file, and logs. A process of writing to the display file 306 is performed.

The message / function detail processing unit 2013
With reference to the structure definition file, detailed information in which the unique data included in the API data of the API sort data file and the structure corresponding to the message or function are associated with each other is written in the log display file 306.

The process progress processing unit 2014 has the FIFO queue 3 of the shared memory 302 for each time set in the process generation / disappearance information output interval of the control file 304.
03 is checked to see if a process progress data packet is stored, and if so, a process generation / recording process generation / destruction process is recorded from the PID / process name correspondence data packet.
The disappearance data file is generated in the HD 103 and its PI
D The process of writing the contents of the process name corresponding data file into the log display file 306 is performed.

The key name conversion unit 2015 extracts the key event message from the API sort data file, converts the key code included in the key event into the key name by referring to the key conversion data file, and stores it in the log display file 306. Perform the writing process. The display processing unit 2016
This is the same as the multifunction peripheral 100 of the first embodiment.

Like the first embodiment, the component activation application 118 reads the control file 304, checks the setting contents thereof, and determines the API data processing unit 200.
9, header extraction unit 2010, message name / function name conversion unit 2011, process name conversion unit 2012, message
Function detail processing unit 2013, process progress processing unit 201
4. A component to be activated is selected from the key name conversion unit 2015, and the selected component is activated.

The communication history display unit 2008 is the communication history display unit of the present invention, the header extraction unit 2010 is the header extraction unit of the present invention, and the message name / function name conversion unit 2011 is the message name / function name of the present invention. The process name conversion unit 2012 is the process name conversion unit in the present invention.
013 is the detailed information extracting means of the present invention, the process progress processing section 2014 is the process progress information extracting means of the present invention, the key name converting section 2015 is the key converting means of the present invention, and the component activation application 118 is the component of the present invention. Each of the starting means is configured.

The component selection and activation processing based on the contents of the control file 304 by the component activation application 118 is performed in the same manner as the processing procedure described in FIG. 11 of the first embodiment.

As described above, the multifunction machine 1 according to the second embodiment
In 900, the communication history display unit 2008 has an API data processing unit 2009, a header extraction unit 2010, a message name
The function name conversion unit 2011, the process name conversion unit 2012, the message / function detail processing unit 2013, the process progress processing unit 2014, and the key name conversion unit 2015 are included. Based on the setting contents of the control file 304, the component necessary for displaying the information to be extracted is selected from the above respective parts, the selected component is activated, the received data is extracted from the process of the control service or the application 130, and the operation panel is selected. Since it is displayed in 210, only the components necessary for displaying the communication history can be started in cooperation with the control file 304, and the multifunction device 1 equipped with a small capacity memory is installed.
It is possible to reduce resources during debugging work in 00.

Further, the multifunction machine 190 according to the second embodiment.
0, the communication history display unit 2008 directly extracts the received data from the process of the control service or the process of the application, and the operation panel 210
Since it is displayed as the communication history on the display, the communication history can be displayed promptly and the efficiency of the debugging work can be improved.

In the multi-function peripherals 100 and 1900 according to the first and second embodiments, the shared memory 302 is used when the received data is acquired from the process. Communication may be used.

In addition, in the multi-function peripherals 100 and 1900 according to the first and second embodiments, the logging handler 301 is used when acquiring the reception data, but the reception data may be acquired by another method. It may be configured to.

[0184]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, only the components necessary for displaying the communication information can be activated in cooperation with the control information, and a small capacity memory is mounted. There is an effect that it is possible to reduce resources during debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus is not sufficient, only the header of the communication information can be displayed to perform the debugging work. The effect that it can reduce is produced.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the debugging work can be performed by selecting whether or not to display the message name and the function name according to the memory capacity of the image forming device. This has the effect of reducing time resources.

According to the invention of claim 4, the debugging work can be performed by selecting whether or not to display the process name according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, and the resources for the debugging work in the image forming apparatus can be performed. There is an effect that it is possible to reduce.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the debugging work can be performed by selecting whether to display the detailed information of the message or the function according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus. This has the effect of reducing resources during work.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the debugging work can be performed by selecting whether or not to display the progress and disappearance of processes according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus. This has the effect of reducing resources during work.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the debugging work can be performed by selecting whether or not to display the key name according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus. There is an effect that it is possible to reduce.

Further, according to the invention of claim 8, only the components necessary for displaying the communication information can be activated in cooperation with the control information, and the debugging work can be performed in the image forming apparatus equipped with the small capacity memory. This has the effect of reducing time resources. Further, according to the invention of claim 8, there is an effect that the communication history can be promptly displayed and the efficiency of the debugging work can be improved.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus is not sufficient, only the header of the communication information can be displayed to perform the debugging work. The effect that it can reduce is produced.

Further, according to the invention of claim 10,
According to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to select whether to display the message name or the function name and perform the debugging work, and it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

Further, according to the invention of claim 11,
It is possible to perform debugging by selecting whether or not to display the process name according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, and it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging operation in the image forming apparatus.

Further, according to the invention of claim 12,
According to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, whether or not to display the detailed information of the message or the function can be selected to perform the debugging work, and it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus. .

Further, according to the invention of claim 13,
According to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to perform debug work by selecting whether to display the generation and disappearance progress of the process, and it is possible to reduce resources during the debug work in the image forming apparatus. .

According to the fourteenth aspect of the invention,
It is possible to perform the debugging work by selecting whether or not to display the key name according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, and it is possible to reduce the resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

Further, according to the invention of claim 15,
Data transmission / reception between the component activation application and the control service or the application can be realized by using inter-process communication, and the effect of reducing the development labor of the component activation application can be achieved.

According to the invention of claim 16,
The management apparatus can obtain the communication history of the image forming apparatus, and can take an appropriate action for each image forming apparatus based on the communication history.

[0200] According to the invention of claim 17,
It is possible to start only the components necessary for displaying the communication information in cooperation with the control information, and it is possible to reduce the resources during debugging work in the image forming apparatus equipped with a small capacity memory.

Further, according to the invention of claim 18,
When the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus is not sufficient, it is possible to display only the header of the communication information and perform the debugging work, and it is possible to reduce the resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

According to the invention of claim 19,
According to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to select whether to display the message name or the function name and perform the debugging work, and it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

Further, according to the invention of claim 20,
It is possible to perform debugging by selecting whether or not to display the process name according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, and it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging operation in the image forming apparatus.

According to the invention of claim 21,
According to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, whether or not to display the detailed information of the message or the function can be selected to perform the debugging work, and it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus. .

Further, according to the invention of claim 22,
According to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to perform debug work by selecting whether to display the generation and disappearance progress of the process, and it is possible to reduce resources during the debug work in the image forming apparatus. .

According to the invention of claim 23,
It is possible to perform the debugging work by selecting whether or not to display the key name according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, and it is possible to reduce the resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

According to the invention of claim 24,
It is possible to start only the components necessary for displaying the communication information in cooperation with the control information, and it is possible to reduce the resources during debugging work in the image forming apparatus equipped with a small capacity memory. Further, according to the invention of claim 24, there is an effect that the communication history can be promptly displayed and the efficiency of the debugging work can be improved.

According to the invention of claim 25,
When the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus is not sufficient, it is possible to display only the header of the communication information and perform the debugging work, and it is possible to reduce the resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

[0209] According to the invention of claim 26,
According to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to select whether to display the message name or the function name and perform the debugging work, and it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

According to the invention of claim 27,
It is possible to perform debugging by selecting whether or not to display the process name according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, and it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging operation in the image forming apparatus.

According to the invention of claim 28,
According to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, whether or not to display the detailed information of the message or the function can be selected to perform the debugging work, and it is possible to reduce resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus. .

According to the invention of claim 29,
According to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, it is possible to perform debug work by selecting whether to display the generation and disappearance progress of the process, and it is possible to reduce resources during the debug work in the image forming apparatus. .

Further, according to the invention of claim 30,
It is possible to perform the debugging work by selecting whether or not to display the key name according to the memory capacity of the image forming apparatus, and it is possible to reduce the resources during the debugging work in the image forming apparatus.

Further, according to the invention of claim 31,
The management apparatus can obtain the communication history of the image forming apparatus, and can take an appropriate action for each image forming apparatus based on the communication history.

According to the invention of claim 32,
There is an effect that the computer can execute any one of the operations of claims 17 to 31.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a multifunction machine according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a multifunction machine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a process for executing communication log file generation and communication history display.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing contents of a control file used in the multi-function peripheral of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 (a) is a view showing A composing a communication log file.
FIG. 5B is a data structure diagram of a PI data packet and is shown in FIG.
5 is a data structure diagram of a data packet corresponding to a process ID / process name that constitutes a communication log file, and FIG.
(C) is a data structure diagram of the process progress data packet which comprises a communication log file.

FIG. 6 is a PI generated by the multi-function peripheral according to the first embodiment.
It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the content of the D * process name corresponding | compatible data file.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of contents of a process creation / annihilation data file created by the multi-function peripheral according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a message conversion data file used in the multi-function peripheral according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a structure definition data file used in the multi-function peripheral according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a key conversion data file used in the multi-function peripheral according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure of component selection and activation processing by a component activation application in the multi-function peripheral of the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure of component selection and activation processing by a component activation application in the multifunction peripheral of the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between setting contents in a display control block of a control file and a component activated by a component activation application in the multi-function peripheral of the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a startup state of components of the communication history display unit in the multifunction machine according to the first embodiment when the control file has the setting contents shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 15A is a diagram illustrating a case where the content to be displayed is a message / function and the message name / function name and process name conversion specifications have been made in the multifunction machine according to the first embodiment; 15B is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of FIG. 15B, and FIG. 15B is an explanatory diagram showing a display example when only the header is designated.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of message / function detailed information in the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a key operation in the multifunction machine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example when process name conversion is designated in the process creation / destruction process in the multifunction machine according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a multifunction machine according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a process for executing communication history display of the multi-function peripheral according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100,1900 MFP 101 monochrome line printer 102 color line printer 103 Hard disk (HD) 104 hardware resources 110 software group 111 Printer app 112 Copy App 113 fax apps 114 Scanner App 115 Net File App 116 Process inspection application 117 Communication history generation unit 118 Component startup application 120 platform 121 General-purpose OS 122 SCS 123 SRM 124 ECS 125 MCS 126 OCS 127 FCS 128 NCS 130 applications 200 controller board 201 ASIC 202 CPU 203 SDRAM (RAM) 204 Flash memory (ROM) 206 Flash card interface 207 flash card 208 SRAM 210 Operation panel 230 USB 240 IEEE 1394 250 printer 301 logging handler 302 shared memory 303 FIFO queue 304 control file 305 Communication log file 306 log display file 307 Various data files 308, 2008 Communication history display section 309,2009 Data processing unit 310, 2010 Header extraction unit 311 and 2011 Message name / function name conversion unit 312,2012 Process name conversion unit 313, 2013 Message / function detail processing unit 314, 2014 Process progress processing unit 315,2015 Key name conversion unit 316, 2016 Display processing unit 317,2017 OCS Library

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 11/28 G06F 11/28 AF term (reference) 2C061 AP01 AP03 AP04 AP07 CQ34 5B021 AA01 DD00 EE00 NN00 NN19 PP05 5B042 GA23 GC10 HH30 MA10 MC09 5B098 GA04 GC16 JJ07 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB23 AB41 AB42 AC05 AC22 AC48 AE08 AE15 AF00 BA00

Claims (32)

[Claims] 1. A hardware resource used in an image forming process, an application that performs a process unique to a user service related to the image forming process, and an interface between the application and the hardware resource. At the time of providing a service, a control service that performs acquisition request, management, execution control, and image forming processing of the hardware resources commonly required by at least two applications is provided, and the application and the control service are respectively provided. An image forming apparatus that operates as a process and provides the user service by performing inter-process communication, in which communication history information including communication information of inter-process communication by the application or the control service and time information is stored. Note Means and a plurality of components that can be activated independently of each other, and communication history display means for extracting communication information from the communication history information and displaying the extracted communication information on an operation panel; and extracting from the communication history information. Component activation means for selecting one or a plurality of components necessary for displaying the communication information to be extracted from the communication history display means and activating the selected component based on the control information defining the extraction condition of the communication information An image forming apparatus comprising: 2. The communication history display means includes, as the component, header extraction means for extracting header information including a data type of the communication information and process identification information from the communication history information, and the component activation means includes: When the control information is set to display only the header information,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the header extracting unit is selected and activated. 3. The communication history display means, as the component, a message name for converting message / function identification information for identifying a message or function included in the communication information from the communication history information into a message name or a function name. A function name conversion means is provided, and the component activation means selects and activates the message name / function name conversion means when conversion of message / function identification information is designated in the control information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The communication history display means includes, as the component, process name conversion means for converting process identification information included in the communication information from the communication history information into a process name, and the component activation means includes: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process name conversion unit is selected and activated when conversion of process identification information is designated in the control information. 5. The communication history display means includes, as the component, detailed information extraction means for extracting detailed information of a message or a function included in the communication information from the communication history information, and the component activation means includes the detailed information extraction means. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, 3 or 4, wherein the detailed information extracting unit is selected and activated when display of detailed information of a message or a function is designated in the control information. 6. The communication history display means includes, as the component, process progress information extraction means for extracting the generation and disappearance progress of a process from the communication history information, and the component activation means includes the process history information in the control information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process progress information extracting unit is selected and activated when display of generation and disappearance progress is designated. 7. The communication history display means includes, as the component, key conversion means for converting key identification information of a key event message included in the communication information from the communication history information into a key name on the operation panel. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the component starting unit selects and starts the key converting unit when a key name conversion is designated in the control information. 8. A hardware resource used in an image forming process, an application for performing a process unique to a user service related to the image forming process, and the user interposed between the application and the hardware resource. At the time of providing a service, a control service that performs acquisition request, management, execution control, and image forming processing of the hardware resources commonly required by at least two applications is provided, and the application and the control service are respectively provided. An image forming apparatus that operates as a process and provides the user service by performing inter-process communication, which comprises a plurality of components that can be activated independently of each other, and the inter-process communication by the application or the control service. A communication history display means for extracting communication information and displaying the extracted communication information together with time information on the operation panel as communication history display information, and the communication information to be extracted based on the control information defining the extraction condition of the communication information An image forming apparatus, comprising: one or a plurality of components required for display, selected from the communication history display means, and component activation means for activating the selected component. 9. The communication history display means includes, as the component, a header extraction means for extracting header information including a data type and process identification information of the communication information from a process of the application or a process of the control service, The component activation means, when the control information is set to display only the header information,
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the header extracting unit is selected and activated. 10. The communication history display means includes, as the component, message / function identification information for identifying a message or function included in the communication information from a process of the application or a process of the control service, a message name or a function. A message name / function name conversion means for converting the message name / function name conversion means into a name, and the component activation means selects the message name / function name conversion means when conversion of the message / function identification information is designated in the control information. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus is started up. 11. The communication history display means includes, as the component, process name conversion means for converting process identification information included in the communication information from a process of the application or a process of the control service into a process name, 11. The image according to claim 8, wherein the component activation means selects and activates the process name conversion means when conversion of message / function identification information is designated in the control information. Forming equipment. 12. The communication history display means includes, as the component, detailed information extraction means for extracting detailed information of a message or a function included in the communication information from a process of the application or a process of the control service, 12. The component activation means selects and activates the detailed information extraction means when display of detailed information of a message or a function is specified in the control information. Image forming device. 13. The communication history display means includes, as the component, a process progress information extraction means for extracting a generation and disappearance progress of a process from a process of the application or a process of the control service, and the component activation means, 13. The process progress information extracting means is selected and activated when the control information is designated to display the progress and disappearance of a process. Image forming apparatus. 14. The communication history display means, as the component, converts key identification information of a key event message included in the communication information from a process of the application or a process of the control service into a key name on the operation panel. The key conversion means for performing the key conversion is provided, and the component activation means selects and activates the key conversion means when a key name conversion is designated in the control information. Image forming device. 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a component activation application installed as the application and operating as the component activation unit. 16. The communication history display means further transmits the communication information displayed on the operation panel to a management device that is connected to a network and manages a plurality of image forming devices. The image forming apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 15. 17. A hardware resource used in an image forming process, and an application process for performing a process unique to a user service related to the image forming process,
The hardware resource acquisition request, management, execution control, and image forming process which are interposed between the application and the hardware resource and are commonly required by at least two applications when providing the user service. An interprocess communication history display method for displaying a communication history of interprocess communication performed in an image forming apparatus including a process of a control service that performs the communication information and time of the interprocess communication by the application or the control service. Communication history information including information and communication history display step for displaying the extracted communication information on the operation panel, and control information defining extraction conditions for the communication information extracted from the communication history information And one required to display the extracted communication information or Select a number of components, interprocess communication history display method characterized by including a component activation step of activating the selected the said component. 18. The component starting step comprises:
When the control information is set to display only the header information, a header extraction unit that extracts header information including the data type and process identification information of the communication information from the communication history information is selected. The interprocess communication history display method according to claim 17, which is activated. 19. The component starting step comprises:
When the control information specifies conversion of message / function identification information, the message / function identification information for identifying a message or function included in the communication information is converted from the communication history information into a message name or function name. 18. The interprocess communication history display method according to claim 17, wherein the message name / function name conversion means is selected and activated. 20. The component starting step comprises:
When the process identification information is designated to be converted in the control information, a process name conversion unit that converts the process identification information included in the communication information into the process name from the communication history information is selected and activated. 20. The interprocess communication history display method according to claim 17 or 19. 21. The component starting step comprises:
When detailed display information of a message or a function is designated to be displayed in the control information, a detailed information extracting means for extracting detailed information of the message or the function included in the communication information from the communication history information is selected and activated. 21. The interprocess communication history display method according to claim 17, 19, or 20. 22. The component starting step comprises:
When a process generation and disappearance progress is designated to be displayed in the control information, a process progress information extracting means for extracting a process generation and disappearance progress from the communication history information is selected and activated. Claim 17-
21. The interprocess communication history display method according to any one of 21. 23. The component starting step comprises:
When a key name conversion is designated in the control information, a key conversion means for converting the key identification information of the key event message included in the communication information from the communication history information into the key name in the operation panel is selected. The interprocess communication history display method according to claim 17, wherein the interprocess communication history display method is started. 24. A hardware resource used in image forming processing, an application process for performing processing unique to a user service related to the image forming processing,
The hardware resource acquisition request, management, execution control, and image forming process which are interposed between the application and the hardware resource and are commonly required by at least two applications when providing the user service. An inter-process communication history display method for displaying a communication history of inter-process communication performed in an image forming apparatus including a control service process for performing extraction of communication information of inter-process communication by the application or the control service. Then, based on the communication history display step of displaying the extracted communication information together with the time information as communication history display information on the operation panel and the control information defining the extraction condition of the communication information, it is necessary to display the communication information to be extracted. Select and select one or more components Interprocess communication history display method characterized by including a component activation step of activating the component. 25. The component starting step comprises:
A header for extracting header information including the data type and process identification information of the communication information from the process of the application or the process of the control service when the control information is set to display only the header information. 25. The interprocess communication history display method according to claim 24, wherein the extracting means is selected and activated. 26. The component starting step comprises:
When conversion control of message / function identification information is specified in the control information, the message / function identification information for identifying the message or function included in the communication information from the process of the application or the process of the control service 25. The inter-process communication history display method according to claim 24, wherein a message name / function name conversion means for converting into a name or a function name is selected and activated. 27. The component starting step comprises:
Process name conversion means for converting process identification information included in the communication information from the process of the application or the process of the control service into a process name when the control information specifies conversion of message / function identification information. 27. The interprocess communication history display method according to claim 24 or 26, characterized in that the selected process is activated. 28. The component starting step comprises:
Detailed information extracting means for extracting detailed information of a message or a function included in the communication information from the process of the application or the process of the control service when the display of the detailed information of the message or the function is specified in the control information. 28. The interprocess communication history display method according to claim 24, 26 or 27, characterized in that 29. The component starting step comprises:
When the display of the generation and disappearance process of the process is designated in the control information, the process progress information extracting means for extracting the generation and disappearance process of the process from the process of the application or the process of the control service is selected and activated. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein
The inter-process communication history display method according to any one of 4 to 28. 30. The component starting step comprises:
When key name conversion is specified in the control information, the key identification information of the key event message included in the communication information from the process of the application or the process of the control service is converted into the key name on the operation panel. 30. The interprocess communication history display method according to claim 24, wherein key conversion means is selected and activated. 31. The communication history displaying step further includes: displaying the communication information displayed on the operation panel;
The transmission is performed to a management device that is connected to a network and that manages a plurality of image forming devices.
The inter-process communication history display method described in 0. 32. A program for causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 17 to 31.