JP2004145730A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To normally start an image forming apparatus at all times, in the image forming apparatus which can be started from one of storage devices having different structures storing starting programs, respectively. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is made to start from one of an HDD6b being the storage device as a boot device, a flush ROM6a, and a memory card 6c. When a user specifies the order of the preferentially used storage devices, a CPU 9 uses a BIOS program and checks the effectiveness of the starting programs in the storage devices in a specified order by counts of checksum codes provided to the programs. Then, the image forming device is started by the the effective program having no corruption. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that starts up an apparatus from any of start-up programs stored in a plurality of storage units.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the advancement of IT / S technology, functions required for printers and multifunction peripherals have been increasing more and more. Until now, digital MFPs that had been developed simply integrated functions such as copying, printing, faxing, and scanning into one device, but recent printers and digital MFPs have accumulated on the hard disk in the device. For example, referencing a document via a network, instructing printing from outside via a network, referring to the state of a device (for example, the state of transfer paper loading or the presence of consumables such as toner), changing the setting of a device, and the like. Such a function via a network is implemented. For this reason, the program size for realizing these functions tends to increase.
[0003]
In terms of the storage of programs built into devices, it is common to store programs in ROM in an uncompressed format that can be executed as is, but the required ROM capacity increases as the program size increases. However, the effect on component costs has become a level that cannot be ignored. Therefore, a ROM is stored in a compressed format in an expensive ROM having a unit price per bit, and the program is expanded on the RAM at the time of execution, thereby reducing the ROM capacity and eventually reducing the component cost.
[0004]
However, when a program stored in a compressed format is started, a process of expanding the compressed file on the RAM is performed, so that the start time of the program is extended. Even if one expansion processing time is several tens of milliseconds, a large number of programs must be loaded in order for the entire system to be started. As a result, the overhead of the expansion processing is accumulated, resulting in a system startup time of several seconds. May be delayed.
[0005]
Recently, the Green Purchasing Law (the law on the promotion of procurement of environmental goods by the government, etc.) was enacted, and there was a strong demand for energy saving in printers and digital MFPs. Although it is necessary to be in a usable state, a delay of several seconds in the program starting process in such an energy-saving device leads to a fatal damage to its product power. Therefore, there is a trade-off between energy saving performance (start-up time) and component cost.
[0006]
Further, in order to reduce ROM cost, a method of mounting a commercially available memory card instead of mounting a normal FLASH ROM chip on a substrate is being studied. With the spread of digital cameras and silicon audio equipment, the market for these memory cards is expanding rapidly, but due to extremely severe price competition in consumer use, the cost per bit of memory cards is bare. On the contrary, there is a fact that it is lower than a FLASH ROM chip. However, since the memory card has a narrow data bus width and a slow access time, the data transfer rate is significantly lower than that of a normal FLASH ROM. For example, assuming a case where a FLASH ROM is accessed with a data bus width of 64 bits and an access cycle time of 100 ns, the data transfer rate is 80 MB / s, while the data transfer rate of a certain memory card is about 2 MB / s, which is one digit or more slower. You can only get the transfer rate. Therefore, when a program file is stored in such a memory card, for example, when a 32 MB memory card is adopted, simply reading out all the data in the memory card requires 16 seconds or more, which is an unusable level. It will be the equipment startup time.
[0007]
On the other hand, a hard disk drive (HDD) is used in a printer or digital multifunction peripheral to store image data of a print document or image data of a document read by a scanner. The data transfer rate of HDDs has been improving year by year with the increase in recording density. At present, HDDs equipped with an UltraATA / 100 interface are generally used, and a data transfer rate of about 30 MB / s can be obtained even with a low-cost 5400 rpm type. Also, compared to semiconductor memories such as memory cards and FLASH ROMs, HDDs employing magnetic media boast an overwhelmingly low bit unit price. Therefore, if the program file is stored in the HDD, a sufficiently short start-up time and low cost design can be compatible. However, the HDD is a delicate device that is extremely vulnerable to vibration. When a shock is applied when the power is turned on and the medium is rotating, the magnetic disk floats with a very small gap between the magnetic disks. A head crash may occur in which the head collides and the disk and the head are damaged. When a head crash occurs, data written on the magnetic disk cannot be read, and as a result, the device cannot be used. Thus, the HDD has a problem of reliability. In particular, printers and digital multifunction peripherals are configured with a mechanism that generates vibrations during operation of a scanner carriage, various motors, clutches, and the like, and thus are not a very good use environment for HDDs that are vulnerable to vibrations.
[0008]
As described above, since each storage device has its own advantages and disadvantages, storing an important program such as a boot program required at the time of system startup in one storage device requires only a startup time (data transfer time). Rate), reliability, parts cost, and the like.
[0009]
In order to cope with such a problem, the applicant of the present application has filed an application relating to an invention that enables an image forming apparatus to be bootable from any of storage devices having different structures each storing a boot program having the same boot function. (Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-276689).
[0010]
According to the invention of this application, storage devices having different structures each storing the same startup program are provided, and the image forming apparatus can be booted from any of them, but the startup program is destroyed due to the usage status of the storage device or the like. If the startup program is not effective, the image forming apparatus cannot be started normally or the image forming apparatus cannot be started from the storage device specified by the user, depending on the degree of destruction, that is, the effectiveness. And so on.
[0011]
By the way, as a device for bootstrapping an operating system in a personal computer, a floppy (registered trademark) disk drive, a hard disk drive, and a CD-ROM drive are provided, and bootstrapping is performed from any of them, and a boot order is determined at that time. An invention that bootstraps according to this order is known (see Patent Document 1).
[0012]
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-10-143443 (paragraphs (0014) and (0023))
[0013]
However, since the present invention does not employ the technical concept of verifying the destruction (validity) of the boot program, there is a problem that the boot program is activated by the boot program whose validity may be lost due to the destruction. . Therefore, normal startup may not be performed.
Further, since each of the plurality of storage devices does not always store the latest boot program of the same version or creation date, the boot may be performed by an old boot program whose performance is not improved. There is a problem.
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and a first object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can start an apparatus from any of storage devices having different structures each storing the same start program. The purpose is to normally start up the image forming apparatus. A second object is to start up the image forming apparatus by using the latest boot program in the image forming apparatus.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a storage device having a different structure in which the same boot program is stored, wherein the image forming device can be started from any of the storage devices. Means for determining whether or not the boot program stored in each of them is valid, and means for selecting a storage device of a valid boot program based on the determination. The image forming apparatus is activated by the boot program of the selected storage device. An image forming apparatus characterized by being activated.
[0016]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the means for determining whether or not the activation program stored in each of the storage devices having the different structures is valid is based on a predetermined order. Are sequentially determined as to whether they are valid or not.
[0017]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the means for determining whether the activation program stored in each of the storage devices having different structures is valid is added to the activation program. An image forming apparatus is characterized in that a numeric code is counted, and when the count value is a predetermined count value, the activation program is determined to be valid.
[0018]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having a storage device having a different structure in which a start program is stored, wherein the image forming apparatus can be started from any of the storage devices. Means for determining whether the boot program stored in the storage device is new or old, and means for selecting a storage device for the latest boot program based on the determination, and activating the image forming apparatus using the boot program of the selected storage device. Image forming apparatus.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
First, a printer unit of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the internal configuration of the printer unit.
In FIG. 1, a printer controller 2 built in a printer 1 converts print data from a host 3 into video data in accordance with a control mode set at that time and a control command from a host computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a host) 3. And a control mechanism for outputting to the printer engine 13 by the following modules.
[0020]
The host I / F 5 is an interface for control signals and data from the host 3 to the printer 1 and status signals from the printer 1 to the host 3.
The CPU 9 activates the printer controller 2 according to an activation program stored in each of the flash ROM 6a, the HDD 6b, and the flash flash memory card 6c, which will be described in detail later. (Print data, control data) sent from the host I / F 5 via the host I / F 5 are processed and managed.
[0021]
The RAM 10 is a work memory when the CPU 9 executes the above processing, a buffer that manages and temporarily stores data from the host 3 in page units, converts the data stored in the buffer into an actual print pattern, and converts video data. Used as a bitmap memory for storing. The NV-RAM 11 is a non-volatile RAM for storing data to be retained even when the power is turned off.
[0022]
The flash ROM 6a, the HDD 6b, and the flash memory card 6c store a startup program (boot image), a program for processing and managing data in the print controller 2, and a program for controlling peripheral modules, respectively.
Note that the flash memory card has a connector portion, and is detachable from an adapter in the main body of the main body of the image forming apparatus through a mounting port (not shown) provided to the outside.
[0023]
The font ROM 7 has various types of fonts used for printing. The engine I / F 12 is an interface that communicates data (video data, control data) from the controller 2 to the printer engine 13 and status signals from the printer 1 to the controller 2. The panel I / F 8 is a signal interface for notifying the user of the status of the printer 1 and switching operation modes, fonts, and the like. The operation panel 4 has a display unit for displaying the status of the printer and a switch unit for switching the printer mode, font, and the like, and exchanges signals with the CPU 9 via the panel I / F 8 to operate these.
[0024]
The printer engine 13 creates and develops an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor based on video data and control data sent from the printer controller 2 via the engine I / F 12, and develops a transfer sheet from a sheet feeding unit. The printing unit feeds, transfers, fixes and forms an image. It also has a main motor, and its rotation is switched by a clutch to feed transfer paper from a plurality of paper feed units.
[0025]
During the operation of the printer, data sent from the host 3 through the host I / F 5 is divided by the CPU 9 into print data, print control data (SP, CR, LF, HT, VT,... The data and print control data are converted into control codes and stored in the RAM 10. When a print command from the host 3 or data received from the host 3 exceeds one page, the print controller 2 first converts the intermediate code into video data, and when the conversion is completed, the printer engine 13 through the engine I / F 12. To start printing.
The print data from the host 3 is printed via the printer engine 13 in a series of flows as described above.
[0026]
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a printer controller for describing the function of the storage device in detail. In the figure, the printer controller transmits a print control command from the host 3 through the network interface 16 or the bidirectional parallel interface 17. The print operation is realized by receiving the print request and issuing an image forming request to the printer engine 13 as described above. In FIG. 2, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0027]
Next, verification of the validity of the boot program according to the present invention will be described.
1 and 2, a boot program (boot image) required at the time of booting the image forming apparatus includes an HDD (magnetic memory) 6b as a storage device (hereinafter abbreviated as a storage device) as a boot device and a flash memory. It is stored in both cards (semiconductor memory) 6c. The HDD 6b stores the startup program in an uncompressed format because the data transfer rate is relatively high. When the data is stored in the compressed format, the time required to read the startup program is slightly shortened. However, it is to prevent the processing for expanding the read compressed data from taking more time. Further, the flash memory card 6c stores the startup program in a compressed format because the data transfer rate is low. This is because the effect of shortening the read time obtained by compressing the startup program is greater than the expansion time of the compressed data.
[0028]
In the present invention, the startup program is also stored in the flash ROM (semiconductor memory) 6a. The flash ROM 6a is a highly reliable device that is not destroyed by vibrations or the like, but has the disadvantage that the access speed is slow and the unit cost per bit is high. The HDD 6b is less reliable than a flash ROM, but has the advantages of a faster access speed and a lower unit cost per bit.
[0029]
The printer controller 2 has a boot device selection switch (not shown), and is configured to be able to select whether to start from the HDD 6b or from the flash memory card 6c or the flash ROM 6a by using this switch.
[0030]
When the power of the image forming apparatus is turned on, the BIOS program is started from the flash ROM 6a, and the BIOS program asks the operation panel 4 which storage device of the storage device is to be selected. When a storage device for a program to be started is designated from the panel, the BIOS program reads the designated start program for the storage device and starts the image forming apparatus.
[0031]
At this time, for example, by displaying the boot device setting screen shown in FIG. 3 on the operation panel 4 by the BIOS program, the user can change the storage device of the program to be booted with the first priority to the HDD and the second priority. The storage device of the program to be started with the first priority can be arbitrarily selected and designated as a flash ROM, or the storage device of the program to be started with the first priority can be arbitrarily selected and designated as the flash ROM and the storage device of the program to be started with the second priority. Now, when the storage device of the program to be started with the first priority is designated as an HDD and the storage device of the program to be started with the second priority is designated as a flash ROM, the BIOS program checks the validity of the startup program in the storage device. , A valid boot program is read.
[0032]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process of reading a boot program of a storage device according to the order instructed by the user.
Referring to FIG. 4, according to the BIOS program, the CPU 9 checks whether the boot program of the first priority storage device is valid or not (S1). Since a checksum code (for example, a binary code) is provided to the entire start program, the code is counted. If the count result is a predetermined count value, there is no damage such as breakage in the program. Judge as valid.
[0033]
When the validity is determined by the above check (S1, YES), the boot program is read from the first priority storage device (S2). If it is not determined that there is validity (S1, NO), it is checked whether the startup program of the second priority storage device is valid (S3). If it is determined that there is validity (S3, YES), the second program is activated. The boot program is read from the priority storage device (S4). When it is not determined that the data is valid (S3, NO), a start error is returned (S5).
[0034]
According to the present embodiment, the user can arbitrarily designate the HDD 6B, the flash ROM 6a, or the memory card 6c as the first priority storage device or the second priority storage device based on the performance of the storage device.
[0035]
In this embodiment, the first priority storage device and the second priority storage device are set in advance, and when the power is turned on, the validity of the activation program of the storage device is automatically determined in this order. Then, the startup program is read.
The user sets a high-performance HDD as the storage device of the program to be started with the first priority and sets the memory card as the storage device of the program to be started with the second priority, taking into account the performance of the storage device by means not shown in advance. Keep it. Each time the power is turned on by this setting, the storage device is automatically selected in this order, and the validity and readout of the activation program are performed.
[0036]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process of reading out a boot program of a storage device in a preset order.
Referring to FIG. 5, the BIOS program checks the checksum code of the boot program stored in the HDD 6b, determines whether the boot program in the HDD 6b is valid (S11), and determines whether the boot program is valid. At this time (S11, YES), the startup program is read from the HDD 6b (S12), and the process returns to the initial state.
[0037]
If the boot program in the HDD 6b is not valid (S11, NO), the checksum code of the boot program in the memory card 6c is checked to determine whether the boot program is valid (S13). When the activation program of the memory card 6c is valid (S13, YES), the activation program is read from the memory card 6c (S14). If the startup program of the memory card is not valid (S3, NO), a startup error is returned (S15), and the process returns to the initial state.
[0038]
The CPU 9 reads and executes a boot program of the valid HDD 6b or the flash memory (semiconductor memory) 6a. As a result, the system program stored in the HDD 6b is written into the RAM 10, and the image forming apparatus starts. After that, the application program stored in the HDD 6b is read into the RAM 10, and processing such as printing specified by the user is performed.
[0039]
According to the present embodiment, every time the power of the image forming apparatus is turned on, the validity of the activation program of the predetermined storage device is checked and the image forming apparatus is started up. The image forming apparatus can be started up.
[0040]
Further, verification of a new or old boot program according to the present invention will be described.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, the height of the version (order of newness) is determined from the version information, the startup program with the highest version is read, and the image forming apparatus is activated with this startup program.
Version information is Ver. Starting from 1.0, if a small change is made, the number after the decimal point is Ver. 1.0 → Ver. 1.1 → Ver. It is set to increase to 1.2. If a major change is made, the integer part number will be Ver. 1.2 → Ver2.0 → Ver. It increases like 3.0. Therefore, the height of the version is determined from these numbers.
[0041]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the process of reading the highest version of the startup program. This process will be described with reference to FIG. 6. When the order of reading from the HDD to the memory card is designated by the user, the CPU 9 first accesses the version information of the boot program stored in the HDD 6b by the BIOS program, and Then, the version of the startup program is read out (S21). Subsequently, access is made to the version information of the startup program of the memory card 6c, and the version of this startup program is read (S22).
[0042]
Then, the CPU 9 checks whether or not the version of the boot program in the HDD 6b is higher than the version of the boot program in the memory card 6c (S23). If the version of the boot program in the HDD 6b is higher, that is, the version of the newly released version is In this case, the boot program is read from the HDD 6b (S24). If the version of the boot program in the HDD 6b is not high, the boot program of the memory card 6c is read (S25), and the process returns to the initial state.
[0043]
Further, in the present embodiment, the newness of the date of the date information is determined, a start-up program with the latest date is read, and the image forming apparatus is started up by this start-up program.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process of reading the startup program of the latest date.
This process will be described with reference to FIG. 7. When the user designates the HDD → memory card, the CPU 9 accesses the date information of the boot program stored in the HDD 6b by the BIOS program, and determines the date of the boot program in the HDD 6b. The date is read (S31). Subsequently, the date of the start program of the memory card 6c is accessed, and the date of the start program is read (S32). Then, the CPU 9 checks whether or not the date of the boot program in the HDD 6b is newer than the date of the boot program of the memory card 6c (S33). If the date of the boot program in the HDD 6b is newer, the CPU 9 reads the boot program from the HDD 6b (S33). S34). If the date of the boot program in the HDD 6b is not new, the boot program of the memory card 6c is read (S35), and the process returns to the initial state.
[0044]
According to the present embodiment, even if the function of starting the image forming apparatus is the same as the start program, the start of the image forming apparatus can be started by the latest start program such as improvement of the start speed.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first, second, and third aspects, when the image forming apparatus is started from any of the storage devices having different structures each storing the same starting program, the image forming apparatus is always started normally. Can be. In addition, it is possible to start up from the storage devices in the order specified by the user according to the performance of the storage devices and the like.
When the image forming apparatus is started from any of the storage devices having different structures each storing the boot program, the image forming apparatus is started from the storage device storing the latest boot program. be able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an internal configuration of a printer unit of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a printer controller of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a priority setting screen of a storage device.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process of reading a boot program of a storage device in an order designated by a user.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process of reading a boot program of a storage device in a preset order.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process of reading a boot program of the highest version.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process of reading a startup program of the latest date.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Printer 2 Printer controller 3 Host computer 6a Flash ROM
6b HDD 6c Flash ROM card 7 Font ROM 9 CPU
10 ... RAM 13 ... Printer engine

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus having storage devices of different structures each storing the same start-up program and capable of starting the image forming apparatus from any of the storage devices, the start-up stored in each of the storage devices of the different structure Means for determining whether the program is valid, and means for selecting a storage device of a valid boot program based on the determination, wherein the image forming apparatus is booted by the boot program of the selected storage device. Image forming device. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining whether or not the activation program stored in each of the storage devices having the different structures is valid is based on whether or not each of the storage devices is sequentially valid according to a preset order. An image forming apparatus for making a determination. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for judging whether or not the activation program stored in each of said storage devices having different structures is valid counts a check code given to the activation program, and performs a predetermined operation. An image forming apparatus that determines that the activation program is valid when the count value is (1). In an image forming apparatus having a storage device having a different structure storing a boot program and enabling the image forming apparatus to be booted from any of the storage devices, a boot program stored in each of the storage devices having the different structure is stored. An image forming apparatus comprising: means for judging new or old; and means for selecting a storage device of the latest boot program based on the determination, and activating the image forming apparatus by the boot program of the selected storage device.

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