JP2003335028A - Imaging apparatus and method for managing state information - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus in which the state information of a recording medium can be informed readily and quickly, and to provide a method for managing the state information. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus comprising a hardware resource being used therein, programs 30 and 42 for processing a user service pertaining to imaging, and a slot 125 for inserting/withdrawing the recording medium 126 is further provided with a state information managing means 123 for managing the state information of the recording medium 126 inserted into the slot 125 and informing the state information to the programs 30 and 42 in response to a request therefrom. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a status information management method, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus having a platform between a hardware resource and a program and having a function of managing status information of a recording medium. The present invention relates to a device and a state information management method.

[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 such a fusion machine, after the power is turned on, the BI
An OS (Basic Input / Output System) and a boot loader (Boot Loader) start up. The boot loader starts the kernel.

After the kernel is started, an application (hereinafter referred to as an application) or various applications that start various services
The service start program is started. The application / service activation program performs the activation process for activating the application or service and the state confirmation process for confirming the state of the recording medium in the same process. When the application and various services after starting need to know the state of the recording medium, they directly access the recording medium and judge the state of the recording medium.

[0005]

However, in the conventional fusion machine, since the application / service activation program performs the activation processing of the application and various services and the state confirmation processing of the recording medium in the same processing, the application and various services are not processed. There is a problem that the start of the service is affected by the time of the state confirmation processing for confirming the state of the recording medium and is delayed.

[0006] In addition, after the application is started and various services,
Since it is necessary to directly access the recording medium in order to know the state of the recording medium, there is a problem that the processing related to the access is complicated and a time required for the access is required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus and a status information management method capable of easily and quickly informing a program of status information of a recording medium. To do.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a hardware resource used in an image forming process, a program for executing a user service related to the image forming, and a recording medium. An image forming apparatus having an insertable / removable slot, which manages status information of a recording medium inserted in the slot and notifies status information to the program in response to a request from the program. It is characterized by having.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a hardware resource used in an image forming process, a program for executing a user service related to image forming, and a recording medium. In addition, it is characterized by comprising state information managing means for managing the state information of the recording medium and notifying the program of the state information in response to a request from the program.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a hardware resource used in image forming processing, a program for processing user services related to image forming, and a slot into which a recording medium can be inserted and removed. A method of managing status information of an image forming apparatus, comprising a status information management step of managing status information of a recording medium inserted in the slot and notifying the program of the status information in response to a request from the program. It is characterized by

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a state of an image forming apparatus having a hardware resource used in an image forming process, a program for executing a user service related to image forming, and a recording medium. An information management method, comprising: a status information management step of managing status information of the recording medium and notifying the program of the status information in response to a request from the program.

According to the present invention, since the state information managing means for managing the state information of the recording medium is provided, the application or service can easily and quickly obtain the availability information, error information, and hot-swap information of the recording medium. Can be obtained.

Further, since the program for checking the state of the recording medium and the application / service activation program are separate programs, it is possible to prevent the activation of the application or service from being delayed at the time of activation.

[0014]

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 (B &
WLP 11 and color line printer (Color)
LP) 12, a hardware resource 13 such as a scanner or a facsimile, a software group 20, and a multi-function peripheral activation unit 50. Further, the software group 20 has an application 30 and a platform 40.

The application 30 performs processing unique to user services relating to image forming processing such as printer, copy, facsimile, and scanner.

The application 30 is a printer application 31 which is a printer application having a page description language (PDL, PCL) and PostScript (PS), a copy application 32 which is a copy application, and a facsimile application. A fax application 33, a scanner application 34 that is a scanner application, a network file application 35 that is a network file application,
Process inspection application 36, which is a process inspection application
And have.

The platform 40 also interprets a processing request from the application 30 to generate a hardware resource acquisition request, and manages one or more hardware resources to acquire an acquisition request from the control service. It is configured to have a system resource manager (hereinafter referred to as SRM) 43 that arbitrates an operating system 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, an operation panel control service (hereinafter referred to as OCS) 46, a fax control service (hereinafter referred to as FCS) 47, a network control service (hereinafter referred to as NCS) 48, and the like, and are configured to have one or more service modules. There is.

The platform 40 is configured to have an application program interface (hereinafter referred to as API) that enables the processing request from the application 30 to be received by a predefined function. The OS 41 is a Unix (UNIX (registered trademark)) or the like, and executes each software of the platform 40 and the application 30 in parallel as a process.

The SRM 43 process controls the system and manages hardware resources together with the SCS 42. For example, the SRM43 process includes an engine, a memory, an HDD file, a host I / O (Centro I / F, a network I / F, an IEEE 1394 I / O).
F, RS272C I / F, etc.) performs arbitration according to a request from an upper layer that uses hardware resources, and controls execution.

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 performs scheduling for using hardware resources in response to a request from the upper layer, and directly implements the request contents (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation by the printer engine, memory reservation, file generation, etc.). ing.

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

The MCS 45 process performs memory control such as image memory acquisition and release, HDD utilization, image data compression and decompression. 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 starts from the PSTN or IS from each application layer of the system controller.
It provides an API for performing facsimile transmission / reception using a DN network, registration / quotation of various facsimile data managed in a backup memory, 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 for applications that require I / O. When data received by each protocol from the network side is distributed to each application or when data from each application is sent to the network side. Mediate.

[0028] For example, the NCS 48 is used for data communication with network devices connected via a network.
p (HyperText Transfer Protocol Daemon)
It is controlled by TTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol).

The multi-functional peripheral 1 can centrally perform the processing commonly required by each application on the platform 40. Next, the hardware configuration of the compound machine 1 will be described.

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

The controller 60 includes a CPU 61 and a ME.
M-P62 and North Bridge (hereinafter referred to as NB) 6
3, South Bridge (hereinafter referred to as SB) 64, A
SIC66, MEM-C67, HDD68, SD
(Secure Digital) Card controller 69 and HDD
And a controller 127.

The operation panel 70 is connected to the ASIC 66 of the controller 60. Also, FCU
80, USB device 90, IEEE 1394 device 100 and engine 110 are A of the controller 60.
It is connected to the SIC 66 by a PCI bus.

The controller 60 uses the ASIC 66 as the ME.
MC-67, HDD68, etc. are connected and CP
U61 and ASIC66 are NB6 of CPU chip set
3 are connected. In this way, if the CPU 61 and the ASIC 66 are connected via the NB 63, the CPU
It is possible to deal with the case where the interface of 61 is not open to the public.

The ASIC 66 and the NB 63 are PCI
Instead of being connected via a bus, AGP (Accele
connected via a rated graphics port) 65.
As described above, in order to control the execution of one or more processes forming the application 30 or the platform 40 of FIG. 1, the ASIC 66 and the NB 63 are connected via the AGP 65 instead of the low-speed PCI bus to prevent the performance from degrading. There is.

The CPU 61 controls the entire compound machine 1. The CPU 61 uses the SCS 42,
SRM43, ECS44, MCS45, OCS46, F
The CS 47 and the NCS 48 are respectively activated and executed as processes, and the printer application 31, the copy application 32, the fax application 33, the scanner application 34, the net file application 35, and the process inspection application 36 which form the application 30 are activated and executed. .

The NB63 includes a CPU 61 and a MEM-P6.
2, a bridge for connecting the SB 64 and the ASIC 66. The MEM-P 62 is a system memory of the compound machine 1. The SB 64 is a bridge for connecting the NB 63 to the ROM, PCI bus, and peripheral devices.
For example, the SB 64 connects the NB 63, the SD card controller 69, and the HDD controller 127.

The MEM-C 67 is a local memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer.
The ASIC 66 is an IC for image processing applications having a hardware element for image processing. The HDD 68 is a storage for accumulating image data, programs, font data, and forms. In addition, the operation panel 70 is an operation unit that receives an input operation from an operator and performs a display for the operator.

The compound machine activation unit 50 shown in FIG. 1 is first executed when the compound machine 1 is turned on, and activates the platform 40 and the application 30. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of the compound machine starting unit. Fusion machine start-up section 50
Has a ROM monitor 51 and a program starting unit 52.

RO as BIOS and boot loader
The M monitor 51 is executed when the power is turned on, and performs initialization of hardware, diagnosis of the controller 60, initialization of software, and the like. The ROM monitor 51 expands the kernel and the root file system on the MEM-P 62 and starts the kernel. Then the kernel mounts the root file system.

The program starting unit 52 as an application / service starting program is called from the kernel and secures a memory area on the MEM-P62 and MEM-C67. The program activation unit 52 is a process that is first activated in the multi-function peripheral 1, and mounts a file system according to a predetermined setting file.

The program start-up section 52 includes the application 30 and platform 4 required for the operation of the compound machine.
0 program is read from ROM etc. according to a predetermined setting file, and each read program is MEM-P
62, the process of the application 30 and the platform 40 is activated by expanding the memory area secured on the MEM-C 67.

Further, the processing of the program starting section 52 will be described. The program starting unit 52 reads a predetermined master setting file at the time of starting, and mounts a file system and starts a process according to the read master setting file.

Hereinafter, a method of managing the state information of the recording medium at the time of starting the compound machine 1 and a method of managing the state information of the recording medium after starting will be described for the case where the recording medium is the SD card and the case where the recording medium is the HDD. The case will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a recording medium state management method according to the present invention when an SD card is used as the recording medium. In the explanatory view of FIG. 4, among the configurations of the multi-function peripheral 1, those required for explanation are shown, and the constitutions not necessary for explanation are omitted. Further, in the explanatory view of FIG. 4, the same parts as those in FIG.

The SD card slot 125 allows the SD card 126 to be inserted / removed, and interrupts the SD card access driver 124 in response to insertion / extraction of the SD card 126.

The SD card access driver 124 uses the S
The access control for the D card 126 is performed, and the SD card status monitor driver 123 is notified of the insertion or removal information of the SD card 126 in response to the interrupt from the SD card slot 125.

SD card status monitor driver 12
3 is the insertion, removal, mounting of the SD card 126,
It manages the status information of the SD card 126 such as unmount and error, and notifies the status information of the SD card 126 to the program activation unit 52, the SCS 42, the application 30, and the like.

The program starting section 52 is used for the SD card 12
The SD card check program 121 is activated in response to the insertion or removal of 6. In addition, the program starting unit 5
2 indicates the SD card 126 according to the status information of the SD card 126 from the SD card status monitor driver 123.
Start the program in.

The SD card check program 121 is
Is the SD card 126 partition correct?
This is for checking whether the state of the file system is correct and for making the file system 122 usable. SD card check program 121
For example, the SD card 126 has a check function, a mount function, an unmount function, a status information notification function, and a file system restoration function.

The SCS 42 monitors the status information regarding the SD card 126 of the SD card status monitor driver 123 to see if an error has occurred with respect to the SD card 126. If an error has occurred, an error handling process is performed based on the error information. I do. The SCS 42 has, for example, a function of causing the application 30 to display an error based on the error information, a function of activating the SD card check program 121, and causing the SD card check program 121 to format the SD card 126 based on the error information. ing.

The application 30 has a function of reading or writing information from the SD card 126 via the file system 122 according to the status information of the SD card 126 notified from the SD card status monitor driver 123, and a request from the SCS 42. It has a function to display an error according to.

Next, the flow of processing of the recording medium state information management method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings along with individual cases. FIG. 5 shows an example of an event waiting process of the program starting unit 52 when an SD card is used as a recording medium.

After activating the application 30 of the multi-function peripheral 1 and the process of the platform 40, the program activation unit 52 is in an event waiting state. In FIG.
In step S1, the program activation unit 52 determines whether or not an event has occurred. If it is determined that no event has occurred (NO in S1), the program activation unit 52 repeats the process of step S1. If it is determined that an event has occurred (YES in S1), the program activation unit 52 proceeds to step S2.

For example, when the SD card 126 is inserted into the SD card slot 125, the SD card access driver 124 notifies the SD card status monitor driver 123 of the insertion of the SD card 126 in response to the interrupt from the SD card slot 125. . Then, the SD card status monitor driver 123 sets the SD card 1
The program starting unit 52 is notified of the insertion of 26. The program activation unit 52 determines that an event has occurred when the SD card status monitor driver 123 notifies the insertion of the SD card 126.

In step S2, the program starting unit 52
Activates the SD card check program 121.
In step S3 following step S2, the SD card check program 121 checks the file system 122 of the SD card 126,
Determine if 2 is normal. When it is determined that the file system 122 of the SD card 126 is normal (YES in S3), the SD card check program 121
Advances to step S4, mounts the SD card 126, and then advances to step S8. On the other hand, SD card 1
If the SD card check program 121 determines that the 26 file system 122 is not normal (NO in S3), the SD card check program 121 proceeds to step S5 and analyzes the error content of the file system 122 of the SD card 126. In step S6 following step S5, the SD card check program 121 determines whether the error in the file system 122 can be repaired.

When the SD card check program 121 determines that the file system 122 can be restored (YES in S6), the SD card check program 121 proceeds to step S7, restores the file system 122, and then returns to the process of step S3. On the other hand, if it is determined that the file system 122 cannot be repaired (NO in S6), the SD card check program 121 proceeds to step S8.

In step S8, the SD card check program 121 acquires the status information of the SD card 126, and then notifies the SD card status monitor driver 123 of the status information of the SD card 126.

For example, SD card check program 1
If the process proceeds from step S4 to step S8, step 21 indicates that mounting has been performed.
If you proceed to step S, it means that there is an error in the file system.
Notify the D card status monitor driver 123.

FIG. 6 shows an example of event waiting processing by the application 30 when an SD card is used as the recording medium. In FIG. 6, in step S9, the application 30 determines whether or not an event has occurred. If it is determined that no event has occurred (NO in S9), the application 30 repeats the process of step S9. On the other hand, if it is determined that an event has occurred (YES in S9), the application 30 proceeds to step S10.

For example, the application 30 determines in step S8 of FIG. 5 that an event has occurred when the status information regarding the SD card 126 of the SD card status monitor driver 123 is changed to "mounted".

In step S10, the application 3
0 starts the process of reading or writing the file to the SD card 126 via the file system 122 and the SD card access driver 124. In step S11 following step S10, the application 30 determines whether the reading or writing of the file from the SD card 126 has been completed normally. When it is determined that the reading or writing of the file from the SD card 126 is completed normally (YES in S11), the application 30 stops the process. On the other hand, when it is determined that the reading or writing of the file from the SD card 126 is not normally completed (NO in S11), the application 30 proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, the SD card access driver 124 outputs status information indicating that the reading or writing from the SD card 126 has not been normally completed to S.
Notify the D card status monitor driver 123.

For example, reading from the SD card 126,
Alternatively, if the SD card 126 is pulled out from the SD card slot 125 during writing, an access error occurs and reading or writing from the SD card 126 is not normally completed.

FIG. 7 shows an example of event waiting processing by the SCS 42 when an SD card is used as a recording medium. In FIG. 7, in step S13, the SCS 42 determines whether or not an event has occurred. If it is determined that no event has occurred (NO in S13), the SCS 42 repeats the process of step S13. If it is determined that an event has occurred (YES in S13), the SCS 42 proceeds to step S14.

For example, in step S8 of FIG. 5, SD
SD card 1 of the card status monitor driver 123
It is determined that an event has occurred when the status information related to 26 is changed to indicate that an error exists in the file system of the SD card 126. In addition, step S in FIG.
In 12, the SD card status monitor driver 1
It is determined that an event has occurred when the state information regarding the SD card 126 of No. 23 is changed to the effect that the reading or writing process from the SD card 126 is not normally completed.

In step S14, the SCS 42 determines SD
SD card 1 of the card status monitor driver 123
After error processing is performed based on the state information regarding 26, the processing is stopped.

As the error processing, for example, the SD card status monitor driver 123 is added to the application 30.
There is an error process for displaying an error on the basis of the status information regarding the SD card 126. In addition, the SD card check program 1 based on the status information regarding the SD card 126 of the SD card status monitor driver 123
There is an error process for starting the SD card 21 and causing the SD card check program 121 to format the file system 122.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a recording medium status information management method according to the present invention when an HDD is used as the recording medium. In the explanatory view of FIG. 8, among the configurations of the multi-function peripheral 1, those required for explanation are shown, and the constitutions not necessary for explanation are omitted. In the explanatory view of FIG. 8, the same parts as those in FIG.

The ROM monitor 129 initializes the RAM and the ROM, and stores the information obtained by initializing the RAM and the ROM in the OS.
And the like, and checks whether the HDD 68 is connected or not, and notifies the HDD access driver 128 or the program starting unit 52 of startup information such as the number of support drivers of the HDD 68.

The HDD access driver 128 is the HDD
The HDD status monitor driver 130 is informed of access control information for the HDD 68 by the application 30.

For example, the access control information is H
There is an access error to the DD 68.

HDD status monitor driver 130
Manages the status information of the HDD 68 such as activation, mounting, unmounting, and error of the HDD 68.
The status information of the HDD 68 is sent to the program starting unit 52, SCS
42, application 30 and so on.

The program starting unit 52 is the ROM monitor 1
HD according to the startup information of the HDD 68 notified from 29
The D check program 131 is activated.

The HDD check program 131 is an HD
Wait until the D68 becomes available, and after the HDD 68 becomes available, the file system 122 of the HDD 68
File system 122
It is for making it usable. HDD
The check program 131 has, for example, a check function of the HDD 68, a mount function, an unmount function, a status information notification function, a file system restoration function, and the like.

The SCS 42 monitors the status information of the HDD 68 of the HDD status monitor driver 130 to see if an error has occurred in the HDD 68. If an error has occurred, the SCS 42 performs error handling processing based on the error information. . The SCS 42 activates the HDD check program 131 and the function of causing the application 30 to display an error based on the error information,
The HDD check program 131 has a function of formatting the HDD 68 based on the error information.

The application 30 uses the status information of the HDD 68 notified from the HDD status monitor driver 130 to drive the HDD 6 via the file system 122.
8 has a function of reading or writing information from the S8, a function of displaying an error in response to a request from the SCS 42, and the like.

Next, the flow of processing of the recording medium state information management method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings along with individual cases. FIG. 9 shows an example of the event waiting process of the program starting unit 52 when the HDD is used as the recording medium.

After activating the application 30 of the multi-function peripheral 1 and the process of the platform 40, the program activation unit 52 is in an event waiting state.

In FIG. 9, in step S15, the program starting section 52 determines whether or not an event has occurred. If it is determined that no event has occurred (NO in S15),
The program activation unit 52 repeats the process of step S15. If it is determined that an event has occurred (YES in S15), the program activation unit 52 proceeds to step S16.

For example, when the power of the compound machine 1 is turned on, H
The power of the DD 68 is also turned on, and the HDD 68 starts a drive spin. On the other hand, the ROM monitor 129 is the HDD 6
The presence or absence of connection of No. 8 is checked, and the check result is notified to the program starting unit 52. The program starting unit 52 uses R
When the OM monitor 129 notifies that the HDD 68 is connected, it is determined that an event has occurred.

In step S16, the program starting unit 5
2 starts the HDD check program 131. In step S17 following step S16, the HDD check program 131 waits until the HDD 68 becomes available. After the HDD 68 becomes available, the HDD check program 131 checks the file system 122 of the HDD 68 and determines whether the file system 122 is normal.

When it is determined that the file system 122 of the HDD 68 is normal (YES in S17), HD
The D check program 131 proceeds to step S18
After mounting the DD 68, the process proceeds to step S22. On the other hand, if it is determined that the file system 122 of the HDD 68 is not normal (NO in S17), the HDD
The check program 131 proceeds to step S19, where H
The content of an error in the DD68 file system is analyzed.
After step S19, the process proceeds to step S20, where the HDD
The check program 131 determines whether the error in the file system 122 can be repaired.

If it is determined that the file system 122 can be repaired (YES in S20), the HDD check program 131 proceeds to step S21, repairs the file system 122, and then executes step S17 again.
Return to processing. On the other hand, if it is determined that the file system 122 cannot be repaired (NO in S20), HD
The D-check program 131 proceeds to step S22.
In step S22, the HDD check program 131
However, after acquiring the status information of the HDD 68, the HDD status monitor driver 130 is notified of the status information of the HDD 68.

For example, the HDD check program 131
Notifies the HDD status monitor driver 130 that mounting has been performed when the process proceeds from step S18 to step S22, and that the file system 122 has an error when the process proceeds from step S20 to step S22.

FIG. 10 shows an example of an event waiting process by an application when an HDD is used as a recording medium.

In FIG. 10, in step S23, the application 30 determines whether or not there is an event. If it is determined that no event has occurred (NO in S23), the application 30 repeats the process of step S23. If it is determined that an event has occurred (YES in S23), the application 30 proceeds to step S24.

For example, the application 30 determines that an event has occurred when the status information regarding the HDD 68 of the HDD status monitor driver 130 is changed to "mounted" in step S22 of FIG.

In step S24, the application 3
0 starts the process of reading or writing the file to the HDD 68 via the file system 122 and the HDD access driver 128.

In step S25 following step S24, the application 30 determines whether the reading or writing of the file from the HDD 68 has been completed normally.

When it is determined that the reading or writing of the file from the HDD 68 is completed normally (YES in S25), the application 30 stops the process. On the other hand, if it is determined that the reading or writing of the file from the HDD 68 is not normally completed (S2
5, NO), the application 30 is step S
Proceed to 26.

In step S26, the HDD access driver 128 notifies the HDD status monitor driver 130 of status information indicating that the reading or writing from the HDD 68 has not been completed normally.

For example, during reading or writing from the HDD 68, the HDD access driver 128 and the HDD 6
If an access error occurs during No. 8, reading from or writing to the HDD 68 is not normally completed.

FIG. 11 shows an example of event waiting processing by the SCS 42 when an HDD is used as a recording medium.

In FIG. 11, in step S27, SCS4
2 determines whether or not an event has occurred. If it is determined that no event has occurred (NO in S27), SCS4
2 repeats the process of step S27. If it is determined that an event has occurred (YES in S27), SCS
42 proceeds to step S28.

For example, in step S22 of FIG.
It is determined that an event has occurred when the status information regarding the HDD 68 of the DD status monitor driver 130 is changed to the effect that an error exists in the file system of the HDD 68. In S26 of FIG. 10, HD
It is determined that an event has occurred when the status information regarding the HDD 68 of the D status monitor driver 130 is changed to the effect that the reading or writing process from the HDD 68 has not ended normally.

In step S28, the SCS 42 sends HD
After performing error processing according to the status information of the HDD 68 of the D status monitor driver 130, the processing is stopped.

As error processing, for example, the H of the HDD status monitor driver 130
There is an error process for displaying an error based on the status information regarding the DD 68. In addition, there is an error process in which the HDD check program 131 is started based on the status information about the HDD 68 of the HDD status monitor driver 130 and the HDD check program 131 formats the HDD 68.

As described above, when the status information management method according to the present invention is used, for example, if the application 30 monitors the SD card status monitor driver 123 and the HDD status monitor driver 130, the status of the SD card 126 and the HDD 68 can be obtained. The information can be obtained, and the access can be performed after the normal operation of the file system 122 is guaranteed. Also, for example, SC
As long as S42 monitors the SD card status monitor driver 123 and the HDD status monitor driver 130, the occurrence of an error in the SD card 126 or HDD 68 can be immediately known, and the application 30 or the SD card check program 121, or By starting the HDD check program 131, it becomes possible to promptly deal with the display of error contents and the format of the file system. Furthermore, SD
Since the SD card check program 121 and the HDD check program 131 for acquiring the status information of the card 126 and the HDD 68 are separate programs from the program start-up unit, it is possible to shorten the time required for the startup processing of the image forming apparatus and to start the image forming apparatus. Even if an error in the file system 122 is found by the time check, a grace period for repairing is given.

[0098]

According to the present invention, since the status information management means for managing the status information of the recording medium is provided, the application or service can easily use the availability information of the recording medium, the error information, and the hot-swap information. You can get it quickly.

Further, since the program for checking the state of the recording medium and the application / service activation program are separate programs, it is possible to prevent the activation of the application or service from being delayed at the time of activation.

[0100]

[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 compound machine starting unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of a recording medium state management method according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example of event waiting processing by a program starting unit when an SD card is used as a recording medium.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example of event waiting processing by an application when an SD card is used as a recording medium.

[FIG. 7] SC when an SD card is used as a recording medium
9 is a flowchart of an example of an event waiting process by S.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of another embodiment of the recording medium status information management method according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example of event waiting processing by a program starting unit when an HDD is used as a recording medium.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example of event waiting processing by an application when an HDD is used as a recording medium.

FIG. 11: SCS when HDD is used as a recording medium
5 is a flowchart of an example of an event waiting process by the.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Fusion Machine 11 Monochrome Line Printer 12 Color Line Printer 13 Hardware Resources 20 Software Group 30 Application 31 Printer Application 32 Copy Application 33 Fax Application 34 Scanner Application 35 Net File Application 36 Process Inspection 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 Fusion Machine start-up unit 60 Controller 61 CPU 62 System System memory (MEM-P) 63 north bridge (NB) 64 south bridge (SB) 65 AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) 66 ASIC 67 local memory (MEM-C) 68 hard disk drive (HDD) 69 SD card controller 70 operation panel 80 fax Control unit (FCU) 90 USB device 100 IEEE 1394 device 110 Engine 120 Kernel 121 SD card check program 122 File system 123 SD card status monitor driver 124 SD card access driver 125 SD card slot 126 SD card 127 HDD controller 128 HDD access driver 129 ROM monitor 130 HDD status monitor driver 131 HDD check Click program

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Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a hardware resource used in an image forming process; a program for executing a user service process related to image forming; and a slot into which a recording medium can be inserted / removed. An image forming apparatus comprising: a status information management unit that manages status information of an inserted recording medium and notifies the program of the status information in response to a request from the program. 2. The state information management means, when the insertion information of the recording medium into the slot is notified, notifies the insertion information to a startup program that starts the program. Image forming apparatus. 3. The image according to claim 2, wherein the start-up program starts a recording medium check program for checking the state of the recording medium when the insertion information is notified from the state information management means. Forming equipment. 4. The recording medium check program activates the recording medium inserted in the slot to an accessible state, and notifies the state information management unit that the recording medium is in an accessible state. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. 5. The recording medium check program detects an error of the recording medium inserted in the slot when the recording medium inserted in the slot cannot be started in an accessible state, and the recording medium is detected. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the status information management unit is notified that the status is inaccessible. 6. A system control processing unit is further provided, and when the system control processing unit is notified by the state information management unit that the recording medium is in an inaccessible state, an error corresponding to error information is generated. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein processing is performed. 7. An image forming apparatus comprising: a hardware resource used in an image forming process; a program for performing a user service process related to image forming; and a recording medium, wherein status information of the recording medium is managed. However, the image forming apparatus includes a status information management unit that notifies the program of the status information in response to a request from the program. 8. An initialization information acquisition unit for a recording medium is further provided, wherein the initialization information acquisition unit for the recording medium includes a startup program for starting the program when the image forming apparatus is powered on. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein initialization information indicating initialization information of the recording medium acquired from the recording medium is notified. 9. The startup program starts a recording medium check program for checking the state of the recording medium when the initialization information is notified from the initialization information acquisition means. Image forming device. 10. The recording medium check program comprises:
Waiting until the recording medium becomes available, starting the recording medium in an accessible state when it becomes available, and notifying the state information management unit that the recording medium is in the accessible state. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9. 11. The recording medium check program comprises:
When the recording medium cannot be started in an accessible state, an error of the recording medium is detected and the state information management means is notified that the recording medium is in an inaccessible state. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9. 12. A system control processing unit is further provided,
12. The image according to claim 11, wherein when the system control processing means is informed by the state information management means that the recording medium is in an inaccessible state, the system control processing means performs error processing according to error information. Forming equipment. 13. The state information management means, when inquired by the program as to whether or not the recording medium is accessible, sends the program to the recording medium when the recording medium becomes accessible. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus notifies that the access has been made possible. 14. The apparatus further comprises access processing means for controlling access processing to the recording medium, wherein the access processing means generates an error during access to the recording medium when an error occurs during access to the recording medium. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the status information managing unit is notified of error information during access indicating that the error has occurred. 15. A system control processing means is further provided,
15. The system processing means, when notified of the error information during access from the status information management means, performs error processing according to the error information.
The image forming apparatus described. 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is hot-pluggable. 17. A status information management method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a hardware resource used in image forming processing; a program for processing user services related to image forming; and a slot into which a recording medium can be inserted / removed. And a status information management step of managing status information of the recording medium inserted in the slot and notifying the program of the status information in response to a request from the program. 18. A status information management method of an image forming apparatus having a hardware resource used in an image forming process, a program for performing a user service related to image forming, and a recording medium, the method comprising: A state information management method, comprising: a state information management step of managing state information and notifying the program of the state information in response to a request from the program. 19. The state information management method according to claim 17, wherein the recording medium is hot-swappable.