JP2003256151A - Data transfer method, and interface control module, device control module, and image formation device using the data transfer method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data transfer method for supplying transferred data from an interface control module to a device control module without unnecessarily burdening the interface control module and the device control module, and to provide the interface control module, the device control module, and an image formation device using the data transfer method. <P>SOLUTION: The purpose is accomplished by having a step supplying at least variable information of the transferred data transferred to an outside computer, from the interface control module 122, included in the process of control service, to the device control module 125, included in the operating system; and a step transferring the transferred data from the device control module 125 to the computer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data transfer method and an interface control module, a device control module and an image forming apparatus using the data transfer method, and more particularly to transferring predetermined data from the image forming apparatus to an external computer. Data transfer method and interface control module utilizing the data transfer method,
The present invention relates to a device control module and an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a fusion machine) in which the functions of each device such as a printer, a copy machine, a facsimile machine, and a scanner are housed in one housing has become known. This fusion machine has a display unit in one housing,
A printing unit, an image pickup unit, and the like are provided, and four types of software corresponding to the printer, the copy, the facsimile, and the scanner are provided, and the software is switched to operate as the printer, the copy, the facsimile, and the scanner.

In order to provide a new service to a user, such a multi-function machine is, for example, a USB (Universal).
Serial Bus) is connected to the computer.
Data transfer methods using USB include bulk-out transfer, bulk-in transfer, control transfer, isochronous transfer, and interrupt transfer.

A device ID character string as shown in FIG. 7 is transferred between the computer (host) and the multi-function peripheral (peripheral device) connected via the USB using control transfer. FIG. 7 shows an image diagram of an example of the device ID character string. The device ID character string in FIG. 7 is
It is configured to include a fixed information character string and a variable information character string.

The fixed information character string is an MA representing a vendor name.
NUFACTURER (MFG), COMMAND SET (CMD) for commands such as printer languages, MODEL for model names such as fusion machine names and identification numbers
CL representing class names such as (MDL) and printer
ASS (CLS), D representing vendor name and model name
Includes ESCRIPTION (DEC). The variable information character string includes STATUS (STS) indicating the basic state of the fusion machine, such as paper out or paper jam.

Such a device ID character string has been transferred from the compound machine to the computer in response to a request from the computer.

[0007]

The variable information character string forming the device ID character string is generated by the USB interface control module included in the process of the network control service. The USB interface control module, for example, generates a variable information character string from status information supplied from a printer application and stores it in a buffer. Further, the USB interface control module stores a fixed information character string that constitutes a device ID character string in a buffer.

The USB interface control module supplies the fixed information character string and the variable information character string to the USB device driver included in the operating system when the compound machine is started up or when the variable information character string is updated. The USB device driver synthesizes the fixed information character string and the variable information character string supplied from the USB interface control module to generate a device ID character string and stores it in a buffer. Then, the USB device driver has transferred the device ID character string to the PC in response to a request from the computer.

By the way, the variable information character string is out of paper, paper jam, toner end, toner near end, online,
Since it is for notifying the basic state of the fusion machine such as offline, it is updated frequently. On the other hand, since the fixed information character string is for identifying the multi-function peripheral, it is hardly updated.

Therefore, there is a problem that the same fixed information character string is repeatedly transferred between the USB interface control module and the USB device driver each time the variable information character string is updated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is possible to supply transfer data from the interface control module to the device control module without applying unnecessary load to the interface control module and the device control module. An object is to provide a data transfer method and an interface control module, a device control module, and an image forming apparatus that utilize the data transfer method.

[0012]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 manages an application process for performing image forming processing and hardware resources used in the image forming processing. A data transfer method for an image forming apparatus having a control service process and an operating system, wherein at least variation information of transfer data to be transferred to an external computer is transferred from an interface control module included in the control service process. The present invention is characterized by including a supply step of supplying the device control module included in the operating system and a transfer step of transferring the transfer data from the device control module to the computer in response to a request from the computer.

In such a data transfer method, at least the variation information is supplied from the interface control module to the device control module, thereby omitting the supply of the part of the transfer data which is the same as the previous one, and the interface control module and the device control module. There is no useless load.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the supply step includes a first supply step of supplying fixed information and variable information of the transfer data from the interface control module to a device control module, and the transfer data of the transfer data. A second supply stage for supplying the variation information from the interface control module to the device control module.

In such a data transfer method, fixed information and variable information of transfer data are supplied in the first supplying step,
By supplying the variation information of the transfer data in the second supply step after the first supply step, it is possible to omit the supply of the fixed information in the transfer data that overlaps with the previous time in the second supply step.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the fluctuation information is generated by the interface control module based on status information supplied from a process of the application.

In such a data transfer method, based on the state information supplied from the application process,
The interface control module can generate transfer data variation information.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 is the first
The supplying step is performed when the image forming apparatus is activated, and the second supplying step is performed when the variation information is updated.

In such a data transfer method, the fixed information and the variable information can be supplied when the image forming apparatus is started, and the variable information can be supplied when the variable information is updated.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the interface control module is an interface control module for a serial interface, and the device control module is a device control module for a serial interface.

In such a data transfer method, the interface control module can be composed of the interface control module for the serial interface, and the device control module can be composed of the device control module for the serial interface.

The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the interface control module is an interface control module for a parallel interface, and the device control module is a device control module for a parallel interface.

In such a data transfer method, the interface control module can be composed of the interface control module for the parallel interface, and the device control module can be composed of the device control module for the parallel interface.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a seventh aspect of the present invention is provided.
The invention according to claim 1, an application process for performing image forming processing, a control service process for managing hardware resources used in the image forming processing,
An interface control module of an image forming apparatus having an operating system, which is supplied from a process of the application, and fixed information storage means for storing fixed information in a fixed information buffer among transfer data to be transferred to an external computer. Fluctuation information generation / storing means for generating fluctuation information out of transfer data to be transferred to the computer based on state information and storing it in a fluctuation information buffer, fixed information stored in the fixed information buffer, and the fluctuation information buffer And a supply unit that supplies at least the variation information of the variation information stored in the device control module included in the operating system.

In such an interface control module, by supplying at least the variation information to the device control module, it is possible to omit the supply of the portion of the transfer data that is the same as the previous one, and reduce unnecessary load.

Further, in the invention according to claim 8, when the image forming apparatus is started, the supply means stores the fixed information stored in the fixed information buffer and the variable information stored in the variable information buffer. Is supplied to the device control module, and when the fluctuation information is updated, the fluctuation information stored in the fluctuation information buffer is supplied to the device control module.

In such an interface control module, fixed information and variable information can be supplied when the image forming apparatus is activated, and variable information can be supplied when the variable information is updated.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a ninth aspect of the present invention is provided.
The invention according to claim 1, an application process for performing image forming processing, a control service process for managing hardware resources used in the image forming processing,
A device control module of an image forming apparatus having an operating system, wherein at least fluctuation information of transfer data to be transferred to an external computer is received from an interface control module included in the process of the control service, and the received fluctuation information is received. Generating and storing means for generating transfer data using the transfer data storing means, and transferring means for transferring the transfer data stored in the transfer data storing means to the computer in response to a request from the computer; It is characterized by having.

In such a device control module,
By supplying at least the fluctuation information from the interface control module, it is possible to omit the supply of the portion of the transfer data that is the same as the previous one, and reduce unnecessary load.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the generation / storage means receives fixed information and variable information from the interface control module and activates the fixed information and variable information when the image forming apparatus is activated. The transfer data is stored in the transfer data buffer, and when the fluctuation information is updated, the fluctuation information is received from the interface control module and the transfer data stored in the transfer data buffer is updated.

In such a device control module,
The fixed information and the variable information are supplied when the image forming apparatus is activated, and the variable information is supplied when the variable information is updated. When the image forming apparatus is activated, fixed information and variable information can be combined to generate transfer data. In addition, when the variation information is updated, the variation information of the transfer data generated previously can be updated to generate new transfer data.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first aspect of the present invention is provided.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a hardware resource used in an image forming process, an application process that performs a process unique to a user service related to the image forming process, and an intervening process between the hardware resource and the process of the application. And an image forming apparatus having a platform for performing acquisition request, management, execution control and image forming processing of the hardware resources commonly required by at least two of the processes of the application, and transferring to an external computer. An interface control module that supplies at least variation information of transfer data to a device control module of an operating system included in the platform, and transfers the transfer data to the computer in response to a request from the computer. And having a device control module.

In such an image forming apparatus, at least the variation information is supplied from the interface control module to the device control module, thereby omitting the supply of the portion of the transfer data which is the same as the previous one, and the interface control module and the device control module. There is no useless load.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the interface control module stores fixed information in the fixed information buffer of fixed information in the transfer data, and status information supplied from a process of the application. Based on the above, fluctuation information generation / storing means for generating fluctuation information in the transfer data and storing it in the fluctuation information buffer, fixed information stored in the fixed information buffer, and fluctuation information stored in the fluctuation information buffer. And a supply unit that supplies at least the variation information to the device control module.

In such an image forming apparatus, the interface control module can be composed of fixed information storage means, variable information generation storage means and supply means.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the supply means supplies fixed information stored in the fixed information buffer and variable information stored in the variable information buffer when the image forming apparatus is activated. Is supplied to the device control module, and when the variation information is updated,
The fluctuation information stored in the fluctuation information buffer is supplied to the device control module.

In such an image forming apparatus, the fixed information and the variable information are supplied from the interface control module to the device control module when the image forming apparatus is activated, and the variable information is supplied from the interface control module to the device control module when the variable information is updated. Can be supplied to the control module.

In the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the device control module receives at least fluctuation information from the interface control module among transfer data transferred to the computer, and transfers the transfer data using the received fluctuation information. A storage means for generating and storing the transfer data in the transfer data storage means; and a transfer means for transferring the transfer data stored in the transfer data storage means to the computer in response to a request from the computer. And

In such an image forming apparatus, the device control module can be composed of the generation / storage means and the transfer means.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the generation / storage means receives fixed information and variable information from the interface control module when the image forming apparatus is activated, and outputs the fixed information and variable information to the fixed information and variable information. When the variation information is stored in the transfer data buffer and the variation information is updated, the variation information is received from the interface control module and the variation information stored in the transfer data buffer is updated.

In such an image forming apparatus, the fixed information and the variable information are supplied when the image forming apparatus is activated, and the variable information is supplied when the variable information is updated. When the image forming apparatus is activated, fixed information and variable information can be combined to generate transfer data. In addition, when the variation information is updated, the variation information of the transfer data generated previously can be updated to generate new transfer data.

The invention according to claim 16 is characterized in that the interface control module is an interface control module for a serial interface, and the device control module is a device control module for a serial interface.

In such an image forming apparatus, the interface control module can be composed of an interface control module for serial interface, and the device control module can be composed of a device control module for serial interface.

The invention according to claim 17 is characterized in that the interface control module is an interface control module for a parallel interface, and the device control module is a device control module for a parallel interface.

In such an image forming apparatus, the interface control module can be composed of an interface control module for parallel interface, and the device control module can be composed of a device control module for parallel interface.

The invention according to claim 18 is characterized in that the interface control module is an interface control module for a universal serial bus, and the device control module is a device control module for a universal serial bus. To do.

In such an image forming apparatus, the interface control module can be composed of the interface control module for the universal serial bus, and the device control module can be composed of the device control module for the universal serial bus.

The invention according to claim 19 is characterized in that the device control module transfers the transfer data to the computer by using control transfer of a universal serial bus.

In such an image forming apparatus, the transfer data can be transferred to the computer by using the control transfer of the universal serial bus.

Further, the invention according to claim 20 is characterized in that the transfer data includes fixed information for identifying the image forming apparatus and variable information for notifying a state of the image forming apparatus. To do.

In such an image forming apparatus, transfer data can be composed of fixed information for identifying the image forming apparatus and variable information for notifying the state of the image forming apparatus.

[0052]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the compound machine according to the present invention. The compound machine 1 is a black and white line printer 11
A color line printer 12, a hardware resource 13 such as a scanner or a facsimile, a software group 20, and a multi-function peripheral activation unit 50. The software group 20 is an application 30.
And a platform 40.

The platform 40 interprets a processing request from the application 30 and generates a hardware resource acquisition request, and manages one or more hardware resources to arbitrate the acquisition request from the control service. It has a system resource manager (hereinafter referred to as SRM) 43 and an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) 41.

The control service includes a system control service (hereinafter referred to as SCS) 42, an engine control service (hereinafter referred to as ECS) 44, and a memory control service (hereinafter referred to as MCS) 4
5, one or more service modules such as an operation panel control service (hereinafter, OCS) 46, a fax control service (hereinafter, FCS) 47, a network control service (hereinafter, NCS) 48, and the like. .

The platform 40 is constructed so as to have an application program interface (hereinafter referred to as API) capable of receiving a processing request from the application 30 by a predefined function.

The OS 41 is an operating system such as UNIX (registered trademark), and executes each software of the platform 40 and the application 30 as processes in parallel.

The SRM 43 process controls the system and manages resources together with the SCS 42. For example, the SRM 43 process includes an engine such as a scanner unit and a printer unit, a memory, a hard disk device (HDD) file, a host I / O (Centro interface, network interface, IEEE1).
Arbitration is performed and execution control is performed according to a request from an upper layer that uses hardware resources such as the 394 interface and the RS232C interface.

Specifically, the SRM 43 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 used. Notify upper layers that it is possible. Further, the SRM 43 schedules the use of hardware resources in response to a request from the upper layer, and directly executes request contents such as paper conveyance and image forming operation by the printer engine, memory reservation, and file generation.

The process of SCS 42 includes application management, operation unit control, system screen display, LED display,
Performs resource management and interrupt application control.
The ECS 44 process controls the engines of the monochrome line printer 11, the color line printer 12, and the hardware resources 13.

The MCS 45 process includes acquisition and release of image memory, use of a hard disk device (HDD),
It compresses and decompresses image data. The process of OCS 46 controls the operation panel which is a means for transmitting information between the operator and the main body control.

The FCS 47 process uses the PSTN or IS from each application layer of the system controller.
An application is provided for performing facsimile transmission / reception using a DN network, registration / quotation of various facsimile data managed by BKM (backup SRAM), facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, and fusion transmission / reception.

The NCS 48 process uses the network I
It provides a service that can be used in common to applications that require I / O. When distributing the data received by each protocol from the network side to each application, or when transmitting the data from the application to the network side, Mediate.

Further, the application 30 performs processing unique to the user service related to image forming processing such as printer, copy, facsimile, and scanner. The application 30 includes a printer application 31 that is a printer application having a page description language (PDL, PCL) and Postscript (PS), a copy application 32 that is a copy application, and a fax application 33 that is a facsimile application. The scanner application 34 is a scanner application, the network file application 35 is a network file application, and the process inspection application 36 is a process inspection application.

The compound machine start-up unit 50 is first executed when the compound machine 1 is turned on, and starts the application 30 and the platform 40. For example, the multi-function peripheral activation unit 50 reads programs for control services and applications from a flash memory described later,
The read programs are transferred to a memory area secured on the SRAM or SDRAM and activated.

FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of an embodiment of the compound machine according to the present invention. The compound machine 1 of FIG. 2 has a controller board 60, an operation panel 70, and a fax control unit (hereinafter referred to as FCU).
80, a USB device 90, an IEEE 1394 device 100, and an engine unit 110.

The operation panel 70 is directly connected to the ASIC 62 of the controller board 60. In addition, FCU80, USB device 90, IEEE139
4 device 100 and engine unit 110 are connected to ASIC 62 of controller board 60 by PCI bus (Peripher
al Component Interconnect bus) etc.

The controller board 60 is a CPU
61, ASIC 62, SRAM (Static RAM) 63
And an SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) 64, a flash memory 65, and an HDD 66. The controller board 60 includes a CPU 61, SRAM
63, SDRAM 64, flash memory 65, HDD
66 is connected to the ASIC 62.

The CPU 61 controls the entire compound machine 1. The CPU 61 uses the OS 41 to form the platform 40 in SCS 42, SRM 43, ECS 4
4, MCS45, OCS46, FCS47 and NCS
The printer application 3 that starts and executes 48 as processes and forms the application 30.
1, to activate and execute the copy application 32, the fax application 33, the scanner application 34, the net file application 35, and the process inspection application 36.

The ASIC 62 is an IC for image processing use having a hardware element for image processing. SRA
Virtual memory areas such as kernels and processes are mapped to the physical memory areas of the M63 and the SDRAM 64.

The flash memory 65 stores each application constituting the application 30 or the platform 40, each control service, and each program such as the SRM 43. The HDD 66 is a storage for accumulating image data, programs, font data, and forms. The operation panel 70 is an operation unit that receives an input operation from an operator and displays a message for the operator.

In order to provide a new service to the user, such a multi-function machine 1 is connected to a computer as a host via a USB as shown in FIG. 3, for example.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the data transfer system according to the present invention. In FIG. 3, the computer 2
However, an example in which one multi-function peripheral 1 is connected is shown, but a plurality of multi-function peripherals may be connected via a hub (HUB). Between the multi-function peripheral 1 and the computer 2 connected via the USB 3, the device ID character string as shown in FIG. 7 is transferred using the USB control transfer. The device ID character string is transferred from the multi-function peripheral 1 to the computer 2 in response to a request from the computer 2.

The process of the compound machine 1 for generating and transferring the device ID character string will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the device ID character string generation / transfer processing. FIG. 5 shows a flowchart (1/2) of an example of a device ID character string generation / transfer process. FIG. 6 is a flowchart (2/2) of an example of the device ID character string generation / transfer processing.

In step S10, various processes are started up by starting the compound machine 1. Step S1
After 0, the process proceeds to step S11, in which the USB interface control module 122 included in the NCS 48 creates a fixed information character string and stores it in the fixed information buffer 123, and also creates a variable information character string and changes information buffer 124. To store.

The USB interface control module 122 receives the API and network control service control module 121 from the printer application 31.
The variable information character string is generated from the status information notified via. Immediately after the multifunction peripheral 1 is started and before the status information is notified from the printer application 31, the USB interface control module 122 may generate the fluctuation information character string from the initial status information.

In step S12 following step S11, the USB interface control module 122 transfers the fixed information character string stored in the fixed information buffer 123 and the variable information character string stored in the variable information buffer 124 to the OS (kernel). It is supplied to the included USB device control module 125.

In step S13 following step S12, the USB device control module 125 synthesizes the fixed information character string and the variable information character string supplied from the USB interface control module 122 to synthesize the device ID character string as shown in FIG. And the generated device I
The D character string is stored in the device ID character string buffer 126.

In step S14 following step S13, the USB device control module 125 determines whether or not there is a request from the computer 2 to acquire the device ID character string. If it is determined that there is a request (YES in S14), the USB device control module 125 proceeds to step S20. In step S20, the USB device control module 125
The device ID character string stored in the device ID character string buffer 126 is transferred to the computer 2, and step S1 is performed.
Go to 5. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no request (NO in S14), the USB device control module 125 proceeds to step S15.

In step S15, the USB interface control module 122 determines whether the status information is notified from the printer application 31. If it is determined that the status information has been notified (Y in S15
ES), USB interface control module 122
Proceeds to step S31.

In step S 31, the USB interface control module 122 creates a variable information character string from the status information notified from the printer application 31 and stores it in the variable information buffer 124. Step S3
In step S32 following step 1, the USB interface control module 122 determines that the variation information buffer 12
The variable information character string stored in No. 4 is supplied to the USB device control module 125. At this time, the USB interface control module 122 operates the fixed information buffer 12
The fixed information character string stored in 3 is not supplied to the USB device control module 125.

That is, when the variation information character string is updated by notifying the status information, only the variation information character string is updated by the USB interface control module 12.
2 to the USB device control module 125.

In step S33 following step S32, the USB device control module 125 stores the variation information character string supplied from the USB interface control module 122 and the device ID character string stored in the device ID character string buffer 126. The device ID character string is updated by synthesizing the fixed information character string, and the updated device ID character string is used as the device ID character string buffer 126.
To store.

The USB device control module 125
After storing the updated device ID character string in the device ID character string buffer 126, the process proceeds to step S14. On the other hand, when determining that the status information has not been notified (NO in S15), the USB interface control module 122 proceeds to step S14.

As described above, in the multi-function peripheral 1 according to the present invention, the fixed information character string and the variable information character string are supplied from the USB interface control module 122 to the USB device control module 125 after being activated, and the variable information character string is changed after being updated. Only the information character string can be supplied from the USB interface control module 122 to the USB device control module 125.

Therefore, from the USB interface control module 122 to the USB device control module 1
By omitting the supply of the portion of the data supplied to 25 that is the same as the previous one, the interface control module and the device control module are not overloaded.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the compound machine 1 and the computer 2 are connected by the USB 3 has been described, but they may be connected by Centronics such as IEEE1284.

[0088]

As described above, according to the present invention, by omitting the supply of the portion of the transfer data supplied from the interface control module to the device control module that is the same as the previous one, the interface control module and the device control module can be provided. It is possible to avoid unnecessary load.

[0089]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a compound machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an embodiment of the compound machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an example of a data transfer system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a device ID character string generation / transfer process.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (1/2) of an example of a device ID character string generation / transfer process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart (2/2) of an example of a device ID character string generation / transfer process.

FIG. 7 is an image diagram of an example of a device ID character string.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Fusion Machine 2 Computer (Host) 3 USB (Universal Serial Bus) 11 Monochrome Line Printer 12 Color Line Printer 13 Hardware Resource 20 Software Group 30 Application 40 Platform 41 Operating System (OS) 42 System Control Service (SCS) 43 System Resource Manager (SRM) 44 Engine Control Service (ECS) 45 Memory Control Service (MCS) 46 Operation Panel Control Service (OCS) 47 Fax Control Service (FCS) 48 Network Control Service (NCS) 50 Multifunction Machine Activation Unit 60 Controller Board 61 CPU 62 ASIC (Application Specific Integrated
Circuit 63 SRAM (Static RAM) 64 SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) 65 Flash memory 66 Hard disk device (HDD) 70 Operation panel 80 Fax control unit (FCU) 90 USB device 100 IEEE 1394 device 110 Engine unit 121 Network control service control module 122 USB Interface control module (U
SB daemon) 123 Fixed information buffer 124 Variable information buffer 125 USB device control module (USB device driver) 126 Device ID character string buffer

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A data transfer method for an image forming apparatus having an application process for performing image forming processing, a control service process for managing hardware resources used in image forming processing, and an operating system. A supply step of supplying at least fluctuation information of transfer data to be transferred to an external computer from an interface control module included in the process of the control service to a device control module included in the operating system, and a request from the computer. Accordingly, a transfer step of transferring the transfer data from the device control module to the computer is performed. 2. The supplying step comprises a first supplying step of supplying fixed information and variation information of the transfer data from the interface control module to a device control module, and variation information of the transfer data from the interface control module. The data transfer method according to claim 1, further comprising a second supply step of supplying the device control module. 3. The data transfer method according to claim 1, wherein the fluctuation information is generated by the interface control module based on status information supplied from a process of the application. 4. The first supplying step is performed when the image forming apparatus is activated, and the second supplying step is performed when the variation information is updated. Data transfer method described. 5. The interface control module is an interface control module for a serial interface, and the device control module is
The data transfer method according to claim 1, wherein the data transfer method is a device control module for a serial interface. 6. The interface control module is an interface control module for a parallel interface, and the device control module is
5. The data transfer method according to claim 1, wherein the data transfer method is a device control module for a parallel interface. 7. An interface control module of an image forming apparatus, comprising an application process for performing image forming processing, a control service process for managing hardware resources used in image forming processing, and an operating system. A fixed information storage unit for storing fixed information in a fixed information buffer among transfer data transferred to an external computer; and a change in transfer data transferred to the computer based on status information supplied from a process of the application. A variable information generating / storing means for generating information and storing it in the variable information buffer, at least the variable information among the fixed information stored in the fixed information buffer and the variable information stored in the variable information buffer, the operating information Included in the system Interface control module; and a supply means for supplying to the device control module. 8. The supply means supplies the fixed information stored in the fixed information buffer and the variable information stored in the variable information buffer to the device control module when the image forming apparatus is activated. 8. The interface control module according to claim 7, wherein when the fluctuation information is updated, the fluctuation information stored in the fluctuation information buffer is supplied to the device control module. 9. A device control module of an image forming apparatus having an application process for performing image forming processing, a control service process for managing hardware resources used in image forming processing, and an operating system. Receiving at least fluctuation information from transfer data to be transferred to an external computer from an interface control module included in the process of the control service,
Generating and storing means for generating transfer data using the received variation information and storing the transfer data in the transfer data storing means; and transferring the transfer data stored in the transfer data storing means to the computer in response to a request from the computer. A device control module having a transfer means for transferring. 10. The generation / storage unit receives fixed information and variable information from the interface control module when the image forming apparatus is activated, and stores the fixed information and variable information in the transfer data buffer,
10. The device control module according to claim 9, wherein when the variation information is updated, the variation information is received from the interface control module and the transfer data stored in the transfer data buffer is updated. 11. 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,
A platform that is interposed between the hardware resource and the process of the application and performs acquisition request, management, execution control, and image forming processing of the hardware resource commonly required by at least two of the process of the application. An image forming apparatus, wherein an interface control module that supplies at least variation information of transfer data to be transferred to an external computer to a device control module of an operating system included in the platform, and the interface control module according to a request from the computer, An image forming apparatus comprising: a device control module for transferring transfer data to the computer. 12. The interface control module stores fixed information in the transfer data in a fixed information buffer, and stores fixed information in the transfer data based on status information supplied from a process of the application. At least the fluctuation information is generated from the fluctuation information generating / storing means for generating fluctuation information and storing it in the fluctuation information buffer, the fixed information stored in the fixed information buffer, and the fluctuation information stored in the fluctuation information buffer. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a supply unit that supplies the control module. 13. The supply means supplies the fixed information stored in the fixed information buffer and the variable information stored in the variable information buffer to the device control module when the image forming apparatus is activated. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the variation information stored in the variation information buffer is supplied to the device control module when the variation information is updated. 14. The device control module receives at least fluctuation information from transfer data to be transferred to the computer from the interface control module, generates transfer data using the received fluctuation information, and stores the transfer data in a transfer data storage means. 14. A generating / storing means for storing the data, and a transfer means for transferring the transfer data stored in the transfer data storage means to the computer in response to a request from the computer. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 15. The generation / storage unit receives fixed information and variable information from the interface control module when the image forming apparatus is activated, and stores the fixed information and variable information in the transfer data buffer,
15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein when the variation information is updated, the variation information is received from the interface control module and the variation information stored in the transfer data buffer is updated. 16. The interface control module is an interface control module for a serial interface, and the device control module is
The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image forming apparatus is a device control module for a serial interface. 17. The interface control module is an interface control module for parallel interface, and the device control module is
The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image forming apparatus is a device control module for a parallel interface. 18. The interface control module is an interface control module for a universal serial bus, and the device control module is
The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image forming apparatus is a device control module for a universal serial bus. 19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the device control module transfers the transfer data to the computer using control transfer of a universal serial bus. 20. The transfer data includes fixed information for identifying the image forming apparatus and variable information for notifying a state of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.