JP2003208319A - Image forming apparatus and method for imparting id of application function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To operate applications without change of programs even when a new application is added. <P>SOLUTION: The respective applications such as a copy application 3 and a printer application 4 inform a module SCS 9 for performing mediation among the respective applications 2 to 5 of application registration by using an API 15 when the present application is started and the SCS 9 allocates application IDs to the respective applications 2 to 5 and informs them of allocation on receiving the application registration. In this case, the SCS 9 searches a vacant application ID which is not yet allocated, numbers the found application ID, and informs the application by which the registration information is transmitted of the application ID after receiving the registration information from the application. Numbering of the application ID is performed, for example, by applying an application ID which is found first. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a digital multi-function peripheral (MFP) which is equipped with a plurality of application functions and operates, and an ID assigned to an application function connected to an electronic apparatus such as these image forming apparatuses. Regarding the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a technique of this kind, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
The invention described in JP-A-198625 is known. The present invention aims to centrally manage the configuration information of components in a device and the distribution information of shared device resources independently from the components while making the most of the advantage of component independence, and at least one resource is allocated. In a configuration information management device of a device having a plurality of components, wherein at least two of the components share at least one of the resources, a means for storing the relationship between the components and the resource, and at least one that requires resource information. It is characterized by having means for specifying one component and means for accessing the storage means for the specified component and specifying the resource allocated to the specified component. According to the present invention, each component is specified by the component specifying unit when the multifunction machine is activated, and if all the components such as the printer, the copying machine, and the FAX are available, an identifier is assigned to each component. There is.

Further, when a mailbox used by a printer is added to such a multifunction machine, the component specifying unit assigns the identifier "15" to the component of the mailbox, and the resource relation registering unit assigns the identifier of the component. "15" is newly registered as a connection resource, and the component with the identifier "15" is further registered with the printer with the identifier "1" as a device resource.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventionally known multi-function machine, the control at the time of sharing the device resource used by the operating application is described in detail. The relationship between the multi-function machine and the application is described above. As described above, an identifier is assigned to the application (component) when the multifunction device is started, and the assigned identifier is fixed, and the component added later is the component registered first. It was supposed to be registered in connection with.

Therefore, on the side of the multi-function peripheral, a program for a fixed application is prepared, and a program is selected according to the value of the identifier to deal with it. However, when the application is added as described above, the application is Since it was fixed, it was not possible to respond easily.

Further, the allocation of the identifier to the application is performed when the main body of the multi-function peripheral is started, regardless of the start of the application, the identifier is given to the unused application, and the corresponding program is read.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object thereof is to allow an application to operate without changing the program even if a new application is added. It is in.

A second object is to enable an application to operate without changing the program even when a new application is added, and to simplify the processing at the time of starting the application. .

A third object is to enable the information held for each application to be continuously used even after the power is turned off / on.

[0010]

In order to achieve the first object, the first means includes a plurality of application functions, and the arbitration between the applications and the arbitration between the applications for arbitrarily using the application functions. In the image forming apparatus having a control unit for controlling an application, the control unit automatically assigns an ID for distinguishing each application for performing the arbitration when the application is activated.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned second object, a second means is provided with a plurality of application functions, and performs arbitration between the applications for arbitrarily using the application functions and control for controlling the applications. In the image forming apparatus having means, the control means allocates fixed IDs to main applications of the plurality of applications in advance, and automatically allocates IDs to other applications when the application is activated. It is characterized by

In order to achieve the third object, the third means is the first or second means, wherein the control means stores in the non-volatile memory the IDs assigned to the applications that have been started even once. The same ID is assigned to the application at the next startup.

In order to achieve the first object, a fourth means is an application function ID assigning method of an electronic device capable of mounting a plurality of application functions, wherein an ID for distinguishing each of the applications is assigned to the application. The feature is that it is automatically assigned at startup.

In order to achieve the second object, a fifth means is an application function ID assigning method of an electronic device capable of mounting a plurality of application functions, wherein an ID for distinguishing each of the applications is given to the application. A fixed ID is assigned in advance to a main application of the plurality of applications when the application is given, and IDs are automatically assigned to other applications when the application is activated.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned third object, a sixth means is the fourth and fifth means, and stores in the non-volatile memory the IDs assigned to the applications that have been started even once even among the applications. Aside
The feature is that the same ID is assigned to the application at the next startup.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following explanation,
Equivalent parts will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping description will be omitted.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a functional block configuration diagram of a digital multi-function peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 according to the present embodiment includes at least a FAX application 2, a copy application 3 and a printer application 4, and further other applications (new application-a plurality of applications are possible) 5 Is also configured so that it can be newly connected. On the control side, control services such as FCS (facsimile control service) 6, ECS (engine control service) 7, MCS (memory control service) 8, and SCS (system control service) 9 provide an application interface. The copy application 3 and the printer application 4 are executed on the above.

Further, each of the control services 5 to 9
And IMH (Image Memory Handler) 10 is SRM
(System Resource Manager) 11 connected to SR
Overall control of each unit is performed by M11. IMH
Further, a driver group 13 for driving various drives such as a hard disk device (HDD) 12 and an SDRAM 14 as a storage element are connected to 10. SD
The RAM 14 also functions as a storage element for the various driver groups 13.

The FAX application 2, the copy application 3, the printer application 4, and the new application 5 are APIs (Application Program Interface-Application Program Interface).
It is connected to an FCS (facsimile control service) 6, an ECS (engine control service) 7, an MCS (memory control service) 8 and a driver group 13 via an rface) 15. In addition, the SRM
The (system control service) 9 includes a PCI bus (peripheral component bus-Peripheral Compone
FCUH (facsimile control unit handler) 17, scanner handler 18, plotter handler 19 and SDRAM 1 via nts interconnect bus 16
4 is connected.

The digital multi-function peripheral 1 constructed as shown in FIG. 1 has a space between each application (hereinafter, abbreviated as “app” in the following description) 2 to 5 as shown in the allocation diagram of FIG. Copy application 3 for module SCS (system control service) 9 that performs arbitration
Each application such as the printer application 4 or the printer application 4 notifies the application registration using the API 15 when the application of its own is started. Receiving it, SCS
9 assigns an application ID to each of the applications 2 to 5 and notifies it. This allocation is performed by assigning the application ID “1” to the FAX application 2, “2” to the copy application 3, and “3” to the printer application 4. The SCS 9 includes a CPU (not shown) and a ROM (not shown).
According to the program written in
Various controls are executed while using AM as a work area, and the above-mentioned respective parts are arbitrated.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of notification of the application ID of the SCS 9.

Upon receiving the registration notice from the application (step S31), the SCS 9 searches for an empty application ID that has not been assigned yet (step S3).
2) The application ID is notified to the application that has sent the registration notification by numbering the found application ID (step S33). As the numbering of the application ID, for example, the application ID found first is adopted.

Specifically, as shown in the explanatory diagram of the search procedure for the free application ID in FIG.
Up to 00 is set as a management target in advance, and a flag indicating whether or not allocation is completed is associated with each.
Then, the flag is searched and the ID found first is adopted. Here, any method may be used as a method for searching for unused items.

According to this embodiment, since the application ID is dynamically assigned when the application is started, it is not necessary to recognize the fixed application ID in advance, and a module for performing application arbitration processing when a new application is added. Application functions can be realized without modification.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an allocation state in the second embodiment.

In FIG. 5, the copy application 3, the printer application 4, and the FAX application 2 are applications assumed by the SCS 9 in advance, that is, they correspond to the main applications, and the new application 5 is an application not assumed by the SCS. Represents Regarding the new application 5 that is assumed by the SCS9, the application IDs "1", "6", and "5" are fixedly assigned to the assumed copy application 3, printer application 4, and FAX application 2, respectively. Searches for an empty application ID and dynamically allocates it.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure for notifying the application ID of the SCS 9 in the second embodiment.

When the SCS 9 receives the registration notice from the applications 2 to 5 (step S61), it determines whether or not the application is the expected one (step S6).
2) If the application is supposed, the fixedly prepared application ID is numbered (step S63). Conversely, if the application is not supposed, a free application ID is searched (step S64). The found application ID is numbered (step S65). The application ID sent by either method is notified to the application that has sent the application registration notification (step S6).
6).

In addition, each part not particularly explained is the above-mentioned first part.
Is configured and functions in the same manner as the embodiment of FIG.

According to the present embodiment, since the main application has a fixed application ID, the processing at the time of starting the application is simplified, and the module for performing the application arbitration processing is not changed even for an unexpected application. Functions can be realized.

Further, for an application using a fixed application ID, the information to be individually retained is retained in a non-volatile memory or the like, and the power is turned off / on.
Later, you can access the information again and restore the information.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing an allocation state in the third embodiment.

In FIG. 7, when the application is first started, as shown in FIG. 7A, the copy application 3, the printer application 4, the FAX application 2, and the new application 5 have an SCS 9 of "2" as the application ID, "3", "1",
Assigned "4". After that, even if the FAX application 2 and the printer application 4 are set not to be started at the second and subsequent start-ups when the power is turned off and then turned on at the time of the next use, the copy application 3 and the new application 4 are set to the previous start-up. Numbers “2” and “4”, which are the same as the assigned application IDs, are assigned.

FIG. 8 shows the SCS9 in the third embodiment.
5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the application ID notification of FIG.

Upon receiving the registration notification from the applications 2 to 5 (step S81), the SCS 9 retrieves the application name from the non-volatile memory (step S8).
2) Then, it is determined whether or not the application with that name has been started up to now (step S83), and if the started history remains, the previously used application ID is numbered (step S84). If the application has never been started up to now, a free application ID is searched (step S85), and the found application ID is numbered (step S86). Then, the combination of the application name and the assigned application ID is stored in the non-volatile memory for the next activation (step S87), and the assigned application ID is notified to the application for which registration has been notified (step S88). .

The other parts not particularly explained are the same as those in the first section.
Alternatively, it is configured in the same manner as the second embodiment and functions in the same manner.

According to the present embodiment, by assigning a dynamic application ID to all applications at startup, a new unintended application without changing the module for performing application arbitration as in the first embodiment. The function of can be realized. In addition, the application ID assigned to the application started for the first time is stored in the non-volatile memory, and the same application ID is assigned at the second and subsequent start-ups to save the information to be retained for each application in the non-volatile memory. Even after the power is turned off / on, the information can be restored by accessing the information.

[0039]

According to the present invention, by dynamically assigning an application ID when an application is activated, the application can be operated without changing the program even if a new application is added.

Further, according to the present invention, a fixed application ID is assigned to an application that is supposed in advance, and a new application is added to an application that is not expected by dynamically assigning the application ID when the application is started. Even if it is done, the application can be operated without changing the program.

Further, according to the present invention, when the application is first activated in the device, the application ID is dynamically allocated and stored in the nonvolatile memory, and the application stored in the second and subsequent activations is stored. By assigning the ID, the information held for each application can be used as k to be continuously used even after the power is turned off / on.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block configuration diagram of a digital multi-function peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an ID allocation state of the digital multi-function peripheral of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an SCS application ID notification in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a search procedure for a free application ID in step S32 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an allocation state of the digital multi-function peripheral according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an SCS application ID notification according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an allocation state of the digital multi-function peripheral according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an SCS application ID notification according to the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Digital multifunction device 2 FAX application 3 copy application 4 Printer application 5 Other applications (new applications) 6 FCS (Facsimile Control Service) 7 ECS (Engine Control Service) 8 MCS (Memory Control Service) 9 SCS (system control service) 10 IMH (Image memory handler) 11 SRM (System Resource Manager) 12 Hard disk drive (HDD) 13 driver group 14 SDRAM14

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of application functions are installed,
In an image forming apparatus having a control unit that performs arbitration between the applications for arbitrarily using the application function and control of the application, the control unit provides an ID that distinguishes each application for performing the arbitration. An image forming apparatus that is automatically assigned when an application is started. 2. A plurality of application functions are installed,
In an image forming apparatus having a control unit that performs arbitration between the applications for arbitrarily using the application function and control of the application, the control unit is a fixed ID for a main application of the plurality of applications. Is assigned in advance, and for other applications, an ID is automatically assigned when the application is activated. 3. The control means stores an ID assigned to an application that has been activated even once in a non-volatile memory, and assigns the same ID to the application when the application is activated next time. The image forming apparatus described. 4. An application function ID assigning method for an electronic device capable of mounting a plurality of application functions, wherein an ID for distinguishing each of the applications is automatically assigned when the application is activated. ID assignment method. 5. A method of assigning an ID of an application function of an electronic device capable of mounting a plurality of application functions, wherein when assigning an ID for distinguishing each of the applications to the application, a main application among the plurality of applications is provided. Assigns a fixed ID in advance, and for other applications, the ID is automatically assigned when the application is started.
D giving method. 6. An ID assigned to an application that has been activated even once among the applications is stored in a non-volatile memory, and the same ID will be used at the next activation.
6. The application function ID according to claim 4, wherein D is assigned to the application.
Granting method.