JP2005203066A - Image forming apparatus and erasing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving performance of an image forming processing and to provide an erasing method. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus is provided with a hardware resource to be used in the image formation process, a program for performing the process relating to the image formation, and a hard disk for storing the information including the image. It has features that the erase information for showing whether the erase of divided areas is executed or not for every divided area which the hard disk is divided into a plurality of areas, the grouped erase information which a plurality of erase information are grouped, the erase counting information to be decided on the basis of the grouped erase information, an erase judging means for judging whether the divided area to be erased exists or not in the plurality of divided areas corresponding to the grouped erase information, by which the erase count information is decided, and an erasing means for executing the erase of the divided area corresponding to the erase information on the basis of the erase information corresponding to the plurality of divided areas which the existence of the divided area to be erased is judged by the erase judging means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus on which a hard disk is mounted, and a method for erasing information on the hard disk in the image forming apparatus.

  In recent years, there has been known an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a multifunction peripheral) in which functions of apparatuses such as a facsimile machine, a printer, a copy machine, and a scanner are housed in a single casing. In this multi-function apparatus, a display unit, a printing unit, an imaging unit, and the like are provided in one casing, and four types of applications corresponding to a facsimile, a printer, a copy, and a scanner are provided. Operates as a printer, copy and scanner.

  Some such multi-function machines are equipped with a hard disk (hereinafter referred to as HDD) for storing image data and the like. In this case, the data stored in the HDD is erased.

  In addition to the large size of the image data, this erasing process takes a very long time because the recent HDD has a large capacity. Therefore, the data erasing process has a great influence on other processes, and is a factor of reducing the performance of the multi-function peripheral.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus and an erasing method that improve processing performance related to image formation.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, and a hard disk for storing information including images. For each divided area obtained by dividing the hard disk into a plurality of areas, erase information indicating whether or not to perform the erase of the divided areas, grouped erase information obtained by grouping the plurality of erase information, and the grouped erase It is determined based on the erase count information whether there is a divided area to be erased among the plurality of divided areas corresponding to the erase count information determined based on the information and the grouped erase information defining the erase count information. And an erasure corresponding to the plurality of divided areas determined to be erased by the erasure determining means. Based on distribution, and having an erasing means for executing erase the divided areas corresponding to the erasure information.

  In order to solve the above problem, the present invention is characterized in that the erase count information is the number of divided areas to be erased among divided areas corresponding to erase information belonging to the grouped erase information. .

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention is characterized in that the erasure information is expressed by 1 bit, and one value indicated by the bit performs erasure of the divided area corresponding to the erasure information. And

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized in that the divided area is a cluster of the hard disks.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image forming, and a hard disk for storing information including images. The erasing unit for erasing the information and a waiting time determining unit for determining a waiting time from when the erasing unit finishes the processing until the processing is started again.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention includes a read / write unit that reads / writes data from / to the hard disk, an access queue that manages an order of processing of the erase unit and the read / write unit, and determines the waiting time. The means determines the waiting time based on the access queue.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention includes a read / write unit that reads / writes data from / to the hard disk, and the waiting time determination unit is configured to prevent the erase unit from being processed by the process of the read / write unit. The waiting time is extended.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention is characterized in that the waiting time determining means extends the waiting time based on the number of times the processing of the erasing means is hindered.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image forming, and a hard disk for storing information including images. The erasing unit suspends the execution of the process if there is an erasing unit for erasing the information and a process having a higher priority than the erasing unit. To do.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image forming, and a hard disk for storing information including images. , An erasing unit for erasing the information, an erasing time setting unit for setting a time for the erasing unit to perform one erasing, and an erasable information amount at the time set by the erasing time setting time. And an erasing information amount measuring means.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image forming, and a hard disk for storing information including images. And erasing means for erasing the information, wherein the erasing means preferentially erases information stored on the inner circumference side of the disk of the hard disk.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image forming, and a hard disk for storing information including images. And erasing means for erasing the information, wherein the erasing means preferentially erases the information stored in the area closest to the area accessed by the head of the hard disk.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image forming, and a hard disk for storing information including images. And erasing means for erasing the information, wherein the erasing means executes erasing along a concentric circle of a circle formed by the disk of the hard disk.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image forming, and a hard disk for storing information including images. And erasing means for erasing the information, wherein the erasing means erases each area to be erased alternately when there are a plurality of areas to be erased.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a hardware resource used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, a hard disk for storing information including images, and a plurality of the hard disks. Each of the divided areas is determined based on erase information indicating whether or not to erase the divided area, grouped erase information obtained by grouping the plurality of erase information, and the grouped erase information. An information erasing method in an image forming apparatus having erasure count information, wherein there is a divided area to be erased among the plurality of divided areas corresponding to the grouped erasure information defining the erasure count information Whether or not there is a divided region to be erased in the erase determination step Based on the erase information corresponding to the number of the divided regions, and having an erasing step of performing erasing of the divided regions corresponding to the erasure information.

  In order to solve the above problem, the present invention is characterized in that the erase count information is the number of divided areas to be erased among divided areas corresponding to erase information belonging to the grouped erase information. .

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention is characterized in that the erasure information is expressed by 1 bit, and one value indicated by the bit performs erasure of the divided area corresponding to the erasure information. And

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized in that the divided area is a cluster of the hard disks.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image forming, and a hard disk for storing information including images. The information erasing method according to claim 1, wherein an erasing step for erasing information stored in the hard disk and a waiting time determination for determining a waiting time after the erasing means finishes processing and starts processing again. And having a stage.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention has a read / write stage for reading from and writing to the hard disk, and in the waiting time determination stage, an access queue for managing the order of processing in the erase stage and the read / write stage The waiting time is determined based on the above.

  Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention has a read / write stage for reading and writing to the hard disk, and in the waiting time determination stage, the process in the erase stage is hindered by the process of the read / write means. The waiting time is extended.

  In order to solve the above problem, the present invention is characterized in that, in the waiting time determination step, the waiting time is extended based on the number of times the processing in the erasing step is hindered.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image forming, and a hard disk for storing information including images. If there is an erasing stage for erasing the information, and a process having a higher priority order that determines the priority for executing the process than the process in the erasing stage, the erasing stage It is characterized in that the execution of the process at is suspended.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image forming, and a hard disk for storing information including images. The information erasing method in FIG. 1 includes an erasing stage for erasing the information, an erasing time setting stage for setting a time taken for one erasing in the erasing stage, and a time set by the erasing time setting time. And an erasure information amount measuring step for measuring an erasable information amount.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image forming, and a hard disk for storing information including images. The information erasing method in claim 1, further comprising an erasing step of erasing the information, wherein the erasing step preferentially erases information stored on the inner circumference side of the disk of the hard disk. To do.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image forming, and a hard disk for storing information including images. The information erasing method of claim 1, further comprising: an erasing step of erasing the information, wherein the erasing step preferentially stores information stored in an area closest to an area accessed by the head of the hard disk. It is characterized by erasing.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image forming, and a hard disk for storing information including images. The information erasing method according to claim 1, further comprising an erasing step of erasing the information, wherein the erasing is executed along a concentric circle of a circle formed by the disk of the hard disk.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image forming, and a hard disk for storing information including images. The method for erasing information in the above-mentioned method has an erasing step for erasing the information, and in the erasing step, when there are a plurality of regions to be erased, the regions to be erased are erased alternately. It is characterized by that.

  As described above, according to the present invention, an image forming apparatus and an erasing method that improve the performance of processing relating to image formation can be obtained.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a compound machine according to the present invention. The multi-function apparatus 1 is configured to include a software group 2, a multi-function apparatus activation unit 3, and hardware resources 4.

  The compound machine starting unit 3 is executed first when the power of the compound machine 1 is turned on, and activates the application layer 5 and the platform layer 6. For example, the multi-function apparatus activation unit 3 reads the programs of the application layer 5 and the platform layer 6 from a hard disk device (hereinafter referred to as HDD) and transfers each read program to a memory area and activates it. The hardware resource 4 includes a scanner 25, a plotter 26, and a hardware resource 24 such as an ADF (Auto Document Feeder).

  The software group 2 includes an application layer 5 and a platform layer 6 activated on an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) such as UNIX (registered trademark). The application layer 5 includes programs that perform processing unique to user services related to image formation such as printers, copies, faxes, and scanners.

  The application layer 5 includes a printer application 9 that is a printer application, a copy application 10 that is a copy application, a fax application 11 that is a fax application, and a scanner application 12 that is a scanner application.

  The platform layer 6 interprets a processing request from the application layer 5 and generates a hardware resource 4 acquisition request, and manages one or more hardware resources 4 to control the control service layer. 7 includes a system resource manager (hereinafter referred to as “SRM”) 21 that arbitrates acquisition requests from 7 and a handler layer 8 that manages hardware resources 4 in response to acquisition requests from the SRM 21. This SRM 21 corresponds to resource management means.

  The control service layer 7 includes a network control service (hereinafter referred to as NCS) 13, a delivery control service (hereinafter referred to as DCS) 14, an operation panel control service (hereinafter referred to as OCS) 15, and a fax control service (hereinafter referred to as FCS) 16. , Engine control service (hereinafter referred to as ECS) 17, memory control service (hereinafter referred to as MCS) 18, user information control service (hereinafter referred to as UCS) 19, system control service (hereinafter referred to as SCS) 20, etc. The service module is configured to be included.

  The platform layer 6 is configured to have an API 28 that can receive a processing request from the application layer 5 using a predefined function. The OS executes the software of the application layer 5 and the platform layer 6 in parallel as processes.

  The NCS 13 process corresponding to the communication means provides a service that can be commonly used for applications that require network I / O, and distributes data received from the network side according to each protocol to each application, Mediates when sending data from each application to the network side.

  For example, the NCS 13 controls data communication with a network device connected via a network by HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol Daemon) by HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol).

  The process of the DCS 14 performs control such as distribution of stored documents. The process of the OCS 15 controls an operation panel serving as information transmission means between the operator and the main body control. The FCS16 process provides APIs for sending and receiving faxes from the application layer 5 using the PSTN or ISDN network, registering / quoting various fax data managed in the backup memory, reading faxes, receiving faxes, etc. To do.

  The process of the ECS 17 controls the engine unit such as the scanner 25, the plotter 26, and other hardware resources 24. The process of the MCS 18 performs memory control such as acquisition and release of memory and use of the HDD. The UCS 19 manages user information.

  The process of the SCS 20 performs processing such as application management, operation unit control, system screen display, LED display, hardware resource management, and interrupt application control.

  The process of the SRM 21 controls the system and manages the hardware resources 4 together with the SCS 20. For example, the process of the SRM 21 performs arbitration according to an acquisition request from an upper layer that uses the hardware resources 4 such as the scanner 25 and the plotter 26, and controls execution.

  Specifically, the process of the SRM 21 determines whether or not the requested hardware resource 4 is available (whether it is not used by another acquisition request). The higher layer is notified that the resource 4 is available. Further, the process of the SRM 21 performs scheduling for using the hardware resource 4 in response to an acquisition request from an upper layer, and the request contents (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation by the printer engine, memory allocation, file generation, etc.) Has been implemented directly.

  The handler layer 8 includes a fax control unit handler (hereinafter referred to as FCUH) 22 for managing a fax control unit (hereinafter referred to as FCU), which will be described later, and allocation of memory to the process, management of memory allocated to the process, and hard disk An image memory handler (hereinafter referred to as IMH) 23 that performs management and an HSM (Hard disk Security Module) 44 are included. The SRM 21 and the FCUH 22 make a processing request for the hardware resource 4 by using an engine I / F 27 that enables transmission of a processing request for the hardware resource 4 by a predefined function. Of these, the IMH 23 corresponds to a validity determination unit.

  The HSM 44 can access the hard disk without passing through the IMH 23 and exchanges with the IMH 23. By this exchange, the HSM 23 obtains a sector that can be erased, and erases the sector. The HSM 23 corresponds to hard disk erasing means.

  The multi-function apparatus 1 can process the processing commonly required for each application by the platform layer 6 in an integrated manner. Next, a hardware configuration of the multifunction machine 1 will be described.

  FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration diagram of an embodiment of the compound machine 1. The multi-function machine 1 includes a controller board 30, an operation panel 39, an FCU 40, and an engine 43. The FCU 40 includes a G3 standard compatible unit 52 and a G4 standard compatible unit 53.

  The controller board 30 includes a CPU 31, an ASIC 36, an HDD 38, a system memory (MEM-P) 32, a local memory (MEM-C) 37, a north bridge (hereinafter referred to as NB) 33, and a south bridge. (Hereinafter referred to as SB) 34, NIC 50 (Network Interface Card), USB device 41, IEEE 1394 device 42, and Centronics device 51.

  The operation panel 39 is connected to the ASIC 36 of the controller board 30. The SB 34, the NIC 50, the USB device 41, the IEEE 1394 device 42, and the Centronics device 51 are connected to the NB 33 via a PCI bus.

  The FCU 40 and the engine 43 are connected to the ASIC 36 of the controller board 30 via a PCI bus.

  The controller board 30 is connected to the ASIC 36 with the local memory 37, the HDD 38, and the like, and the CPU 31 and the ASIC 36 are connected via the NB 33 of the CPU chip set. In this way, if the CPU 31 and the ASIC 36 are connected via the NB 33, it is possible to cope with a case where the interface of the CPU 31 is not disclosed.

  Further, the ASIC 36 and the NB 33 are not connected via a PCI bus, but are connected via an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) 67. In this way, in order to control the execution of one or more processes forming the application layer 5 and the platform layer 6 in FIG. 2, the ASIC 36 and the NB 33 are connected via the AGP 35 instead of the low-speed PCI bus, thereby reducing the performance. It is preventing.

  The CPU 31 performs overall control of the compound machine 1. The CPU 31 starts and executes the NCS 13, DCS 14, OCS 15, FCS 16, ECS 17, MCS 18, UCS 19, SCS 20, SRM 21, FCUH 22, IMH 23, and HSM 44 as processes on the OS, respectively, The copy application 10, the fax application 11, and the scanner application 12 are activated and executed.

  The NB 33 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 31, the system memory 32, the SB 34 and the ASIC 36. The system memory 32 is a memory used as a drawing memory or the like of the multifunction machine 1. The SB 34 is a bridge for connecting the NB 33 to the PCI bus and peripheral devices. The local memory 37 is a memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer.

  The ASIC 36 is an IC for use in image processing having hardware elements for image processing. The HDD 38 is a storage for storing images, programs, font data, forms, and the like. The operation panel 39 is an operation unit that accepts an input operation from the user and performs display for the user.

  A process for improving the HDD erasing performance will be described below. In the following description, deletion of information stored in the HDD may be simply expressed as deletion or overwriting of the HDD.

  First, the erase cluster map 301 and the erase cluster count table 304 will be described with reference to FIG. The erase cluster count map 301 indicates a cluster of HDDs to be erased, and all clusters of the HDD are managed by 1 bit as in the case of one cluster 302 in FIG. If the bit corresponding to the cluster is 0, the cluster is not an object to be erased, and if the bit is 1, the cluster is an object to be erased.

  As described above, if the object to be erased is searched by bit determination, a load is applied to the CPU. Therefore, an erase cluster count table 304 in which clusters in the erase cluster map 301 are grouped to some extent (n clusters 303) is prepared. In the erase cluster count table 304, a value obtained by counting the number of clusters to be erased in the n clusters grouped is prepared. I remember it. This counted value is expressed as a count value.

  For example, the count value of Block No1 in the erase cluster count table 304 is 25, and 25 1s can be confirmed in the n cluster 303 corresponding to Block No1 in the erase cluster map 301.

  The erase cluster count table 304 is a numbered array such as Block No. In the following description, a table indicating each count value is simply expressed as a table.

  By managing with such an erase cluster count table 304, it is possible to determine whether or not an erase target exists in n clusters by referring to each table.

In this case, the search procedure is
1. A table whose count value is not 0 is searched from the erase cluster count table 304.
2. If a table having a count value other than 0 is found, only the target grouped erase cluster map area is bit-determined.
As a result, the bit determination process becomes a spot, the CPU load can be reduced, and the search can be performed efficiently, thereby improving the performance.

  Details of this processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S1401, the HSM 44 first sets the determination target as the head table of the erase cluster count table 304. Next, in step S1402, the HSM 44 reads the count value of the target table.

  In the next step S1403, the HSM 44 determines whether the count value is zero. When the count value is 0, there is no cluster to be erased. Accordingly, when it is determined in step S1410 that the erased cluster count table is the last table, the process ends. If it is not the last table, in step S1411, the HSM 44 sets the table to be determined as the next table.

  If it is determined in step S1403 that the count value is not 0, the HSM 44 extracts an area on the erase cluster map corresponding to the target table in step S1404. In the next step S1405, the HSM 44 performs bit determination on the extracted area. If the HSM 44 determines in step S1406 that the bit is 0, the process proceeds to step S1408. If the HSM 44 determines in step S1406 that the bit is not 0, the HSM 44 deletes the cluster of the target bit in step S1407.

  In step S1408, the HSM 44 determines whether or not the determined bit is the last bit in the extracted area. If it is the last bit, the process proceeds to step S1410. If it is not the last bit, the HSM 44 sets the determination target bit as the next bit in step S1409.

  The following processing for improving performance will be described. This process uses time sharing in multitasking or multithreading. In the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the CPU operates each thread one after another in short time units. In this case, when a certain thread is operated by the CPU, other threads do not operate. Also, the time and priority assigned to each thread can be set.

  Since the HSM 44 is also one of the threads, other threads cannot operate when the HSM 44 is operating. Therefore, the HSM 44 schedules to switch to a thread that uses the HDD for normal use other than the purpose of erasing by providing an erasing start interval, so that the performance of the HDD access other than the purpose of erasing is not reduced as much as possible.

  This process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows a graph in which a time axis is provided on the horizontal axis. On the graph, there is shown a bar graph showing the processing statuses of the HDD erase 314 performed by the HSM 44 and the normal access A 315 and the normal access B 316 performed by the IMH 23.

  This bar graph shows the state by diagonal lines, grids, and diagonal grids. The diagonal lines indicate that the HDD is being accessed. The grid indicates that it is waiting for access. The diagonal lattice appears only in the HDD erase 314 and indicates that access is not performed in order to prioritize normal access.

  In FIG. 5, first, the HDD erasure 314 process is executed. Next, the normal access A315 is waiting to be executed. Therefore, the execution right is shifted from the HDD erase 315 process to the normal access A315 process. Thereafter, the process of normal access A315 is executed, and the process of HDD erase 315 is in a state where no access is made because the execution right is shifted to the process of normal access A315. Next, the process of HDD erasure 315 is waiting to be executed.

  When the execution right shifts from the normal access A315 process to the HDD erase 315 process, the normal access B316 process is simultaneously waiting to be executed. Therefore, the HDD erase 315 process is executed for a short time as before, and the execution right is transferred to the normal access B 316 process. At this time, the process of HDD erasure 315 is in a state where no access is made.

  Thereafter, the process of HDD erasure 315 is waiting to be executed. When the execution right transitions from the normal access A 315 process to the HDD erase 315 process, the HDD erase 315 process is performed, and then the execution right transitions again to another thread (not shown), and the HDD erase 315 process. Is in a state of not accessing. Thereafter, the right to execute again transitions to the HDD erase 315 process.

  Various methods are conceivable for scheduling the execution right as described above. An example of the scheduling will be described with reference to FIG. In the example of FIG. 6, an HDD access queue is prepared, HDD access is centrally managed, and scheduling is performed based on the queued number. In step S1501, the number queued in the HDD access queue is acquired. In step S1502, it is determined whether the queuing number is zero. If the queuing number is 0, the start interval is set to 100 milliseconds in step S1503, and the process ends.

  If it is determined in step S1502 that the queuing number is not 0, it is determined in step S1504 whether the queuing number is less than 3. If the queuing number is less than 3, the start interval is set to 500 milliseconds in step S1506, and the process ends.

  If it is determined in step S1504 that the queuing number is not less than 3, the start interval is set to 1000 milliseconds in step S1505, and the process ends.

  Next, a process for extending the start interval when HDD erasure is blocked by another process will be described with reference to FIG. Note that FIG. 7 is the same diagram as FIG.

  In FIG. 7, the HDD erase 314 process is first executed. Next, the normal access A315 is waiting to be executed. Therefore, the execution right is shifted from the HDD erase 315 process to the normal access A315 process. Thereafter, the process of normal access A315 is executed, and the process of HDD erase 315 enters a waiting state. After that, the time for executing the HDD erasure 315 process comes, but since the process for the normal access A 315 is being executed, the process for the HDD erasure 315 is not executed.

  At the same time as the execution right is changed from the HDD erase 315 process to the normal access A315 process, the normal access B316 process is also in a waiting state. For this reason, when the processing of the normal access A315 ends, the execution right shifts to the processing of the normal access B316. When the normal access B 316 process ends, the execution right shifts to the HDD erase 314 process.

  This process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Step S1601 is the start of HDD erasure processing. Step S1602 is a determination of whether the process has been blocked. If blocked, the waiting time is extended in step S1603, and the process ends. If it is not determined in step S1602 that the block has been blocked, the waiting time is set to an initial value in step S1604, and HDD erasure processing is executed in step S1605.

  As another example of this process, a process of holding the block count in the block counter and extending the start interval when the upper limit of the block count is exceeded will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S1701, HDD erasure processing is started. Step S1702 is determination of whether the process was blocked. If blocked, it is determined in step S1703 whether the block counter is greater than two. If the block counter is greater than 2, the waiting time is extended in step S1708, and the process ends. If it is determined in step S1703 that the block counter is 2 or less, the block counter is incremented in step S1707, and the process ends.

  If it is determined in step S1702 that the block is not blocked, HDD erasure processing is executed in step S1703. In step S1704, the waiting time is set to an initial value. In step S1705, the block counter is initialized.

  In addition to the above description, a process of providing an interrupt and interrupting even during erasure will be described with reference to FIG. In step S1801, HDD erasure processing is started. In step S1802, the priority order is checked. In step S1803, it is determined whether there is a process with a high priority. If there is a process with a higher priority, the HDD erasure process is suspended in step S1805. If there is no process with a higher priority, HDD erasure is continued in step S1804.

  By providing an interrupt in this way, it is not necessary to perform complicated processing by quantifying erasure.

  Next, processing for determining the erasure amount based on the data transfer capability (MB / sec) of the HDD will be described. In this process, the erasure amount can be varied because the performance of the erasure time varies depending on the data transfer capability of the HDD.

  In addition to the method of programming as a fixed value based on the value obtained by measuring the HDD data transfer capability in advance, the erase amount value can be set for each HDD by incorporating an HDD data transfer capability measurement program. It may be changed or may be set by an operator.

  FIG. 11 is an example of an HDD erase setting screen displayed on the operation panel when the operator makes settings. FIG. 11 shows an HDD data deletion setting screen 330, one deletion time 331, one deletion amount 332, an execution button 333, a save button 334, and a cancel button 334.

  One erase time 331 sets how much time is required for one erase. One erasure amount 332 displays how much information can be erased by one erasure. The execution button 333 is a button for executing measurement of one erasure amount in a set one erasure time. The save button 334 is a button for saving the set contents. A cancel button 335 is a button for closing this screen.

  In the case of FIG. 11, an example in which one erasure time is 0.1 seconds is shown. When the setting is made in this way and the execution button 333 is pressed as shown in FIG. 12, measurement is started. When the measurement result is obtained, one erase amount 332 is displayed as shown in FIG. In the case of FIG. 13, it is 2048 KB. This erase amount can be measured by erase amount = data transfer capacity / erase time. After such measurement, as shown in FIG. 14, when the save button 334 is pressed, the set contents are saved.

  In addition, as a method for determining the erasure amount, the rotational speed of the HDD, the HDD cache, the HDD seek time, and the HDD connection state may be used.

  Since the HDD data access performance is improved if the HDD rotational speed is high, the erasure amount can be determined in proportion to the rotational speed, for example. In particular, when the address accessed in normal use is far from the address accessed in erase use, head alignment frequently occurs. At this time, if the rotational speed is fast, the head alignment is also fast, so that the erasing amount can be increased. However, if the rotational speed is slow, the head positioning is also slowed. Therefore, by reducing the erase amount, it is possible to reduce the factor that the access performance during normal use deteriorates.

  If there are many HDD caches, the communication time with the HDD is shortened, the amount of erasure can be increased, and the overall erasure time can be shortened.

  If there are many caches, the communication time with the HDD will be shortened, so the amount of erasure can be increased. It is possible to minimize the influence.

  If the seek time is fast, the performance degradation of HDD access can be reduced even if the address is randomly accessed by the access in normal use and the access by erasure.

  In this case, a seek time measurement program is incorporated, and the erase time is determined by sampling the seek time for each address.

  The connection state of the HDD indicates, for example, a case where the access speed of the HDD is improved by RAID.

  Further, as another method, there is a method of making the erase time uniform by increasing the erase amount on the outer peripheral side and decreasing the inner peripheral side. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the HDD access position and the speed. FIG. 15 shows an HDD disk 340, an LBA (logical address block) 341, and area information 342. As shown in FIG. 15, the HDD generally has a higher access speed on the outer peripheral side with a smaller LBA, and a lower access speed on the inner peripheral side with a larger LBA. Accordingly, as indicated by the area information 342, the access is started from the outer peripheral side where the access speed is high. In addition, it is possible to perform an efficient erasing process utilizing characteristics by changing the erasing amount depending on the access position.

  Next, a case where the inner peripheral side is preferentially erased will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 shows an HDD disk 340, an outer peripheral side 351, and an inner peripheral side 350. Since the area on the outer periphery side can be accessed at high speed as described above, control for increasing the frequency of storage may be performed as an area for storing images. In that case, a new image is easily overwritten immediately in an area with unnecessary data. Accordingly, even in the normal operation, even if erasure is performed, the significance is low.

  Also, the image on the inner peripheral side is not easily stored by the above control. Therefore, unnecessary data tends to remain. Therefore, preferentially erasing data in the inner peripheral area increases the significance of HDD erasure.

  In this case, erasing may be started from the inner circumference side, and after searching for erasable data up to the outer circumference side, erasure may be started again from the inner circumference side.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 17, a description will be given of a process of erasing with priority from the area closest to the most recently accessed area.

  FIG. 17 shows an HDD disk 340, a head 353, a latest access area 352, and head movement amounts 354 and 355.

  In order to reduce the time required for the head to move, erasing is started from the area closest to the latest access area 352. In the case of FIG. Specifically, the search of the area where the amount of head movement is small is performed alternately, such as searching the inner circumference side of the latest area, then searching the outer circumference side, and searching the inner circumference side again. Anyway.

  Next, processing for erasing along a concentric circle of a circle formed by a disk will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 shows a disk 340. By performing erasing along the concentric circle of the circle formed by the disk 340, the head is not moved, so that the performance can be improved.

  Next, processing when there are a plurality of areas to be erased will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the disk 340 of FIG. 19, when there are a plurality of areas to be erased, if each area is erased, for example, when the power is turned off, data that has not yet been erased remains intact. It will be.

  Therefore, by erasing each area to be erased alternately little by little, the data in each area becomes incomplete data, and the performance in terms of security can be improved.

It is a block diagram of one Example of the compound machine by this invention. It is a hardware block diagram of one Example of the compound machine by this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an erase cluster map and an erase cluster count table. It is a flowchart which detects the cluster for erasure | elimination. It is a figure which shows a HDD erasing start interval. It is a flowchart which shows the determination process of a HDD erasing start interval. It is a figure which shows a HDD erasing start interval. It is a flowchart which shows deletion waiting interval delay determination. It is a flowchart which shows the waiting time fluctuation | variation by the number of blocks. It is a flowchart which shows determination of a priority. It is a figure which shows a HDD deletion setting screen. It is a figure which shows a HDD deletion setting screen. It is a figure which shows a HDD deletion setting screen. It is a figure which shows a HDD deletion setting screen. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the access position of HDD, and speed. It is a figure explaining the priority of an inner peripheral side and an outer peripheral side. It is explanatory drawing which shows the access to the position close | similar to the latest access position. It is a figure which shows the process erase | eliminated in the rotation direction of a disk. It is a figure which shows the process of a process when there exist several area | regions erased.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fusion machine 2 Software group 3 Fusion machine starting part 4 Hardware resource 5 Application layer 6 Platform layer 7 Control service layer 8 Handler layer 9 Printer application 10 Copy application 11 Fax application 12 Scanner application 13 Network control service (NCS)
14 Delivery Control Service (DCS)
15 Operation Panel Control Service (OCS)
16 Fax Control Service (FCS)
17 Engine Control Service (ECS)
18 Memory Control Service (MCS)
19 User Information Control Service (UCS)
20 System Control Service (SCS)
21 System Resource Manager (SRM)
22 Fax control unit handler (FCUH)
23 Image memory handler (IMH)
24 Hardware resources 25 Scanner 26 Plotter 27 Engine I / F (PCI)
28 Application Program Interface (API)
30 Controller board 31 CPU
32 System memory (MEM-P)
33 North Bridge (NB)
34 South Bridge (SB)
35 AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port)
36 ASIC
37 Local memory (MEM-C)
38 Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
39 Operation Panel 40 Fax Control Unit (FCU)
41 USB device 42 IEEE 1394 device 43 Engine unit 44 HSM
50 NIC
51 Centronics 52 G3 Standard Compatible Unit 53 G4 Standard Compatible Unit 301 Erase Cluster Map 302 1 Cluster 303 n Cluster 304 Erase Cluster Count Table 314 HDD Erase 315 Normal Access A
316 Normal access B
330 HDD data erasure setting screen 331 1 erasure time 332 1 erasure amount 334 Save button 335 Cancel button 340 Disc 341 LBA
342 Area information 350 Inner circumference 351 Outer circumference 352 Latest access area 353 Head 354, 355 Head travel

Claims (28)

In an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, and a hard disk for storing information including images,
For each divided area obtained by dividing the hard disk into a plurality of areas, erase information indicating whether or not to execute the erase of the divided areas;
Grouped erasure information obtained by grouping the plurality of erasure information;
Erase count information determined based on the grouped erase information,
An erasure determination means for determining, based on the erasure count information, whether there is a divided area to be erased among the plurality of divided areas corresponding to the grouped erasure information defining the erasure count information;
Erasing means for performing erasure of the divided areas corresponding to the erasure information based on the erasure information corresponding to the plurality of divided areas determined to be erased by the erasure judging means. Image forming apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the erase count information is the number of divided areas to be erased among divided areas corresponding to erase information belonging to the grouped erase information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the erasure information is expressed by 1 bit, and one value indicated by the bit indicates that erasing of the divided area corresponding to the erasure information is executed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the divided area is a cluster of the hard disk. In an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, and a hard disk for storing information including images,
Erasing means for erasing the information;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a waiting time determining unit that determines a waiting time from when the erasing unit ends processing to when processing is started again. Read / write means for reading and writing to the hard disk;
An access queue for managing the order of processing of the erasing means and the read / write means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the waiting time determining unit determines the waiting time based on the access queue. Read / write means for reading and writing to the hard disk,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the waiting time determination unit extends the waiting time when the processing of the erasing unit is hindered by the processing of the read / write unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the waiting time determination unit extends the waiting time based on the number of times the processing of the erasing unit is hindered. In an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, and a hard disk for storing information including images,
Erasing means for erasing the information;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if there is a process having a higher priority order that determines the priority of executing the process than the erasing unit, the erasing unit suspends the execution of the process. In an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, and a hard disk for storing information including images,
Erasing means for erasing the information;
An erasing time setting means for setting a time taken by the erasing means for one erasing;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an erasure information amount measuring unit that measures an erasable information amount for a time set by the erasure time setting time. In an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, and a hard disk for storing information including images,
Erasing means for erasing the information,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the erasing unit preferentially erases information stored on an inner peripheral side of the disk of the hard disk. In an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, and a hard disk for storing information including images,
Erasing means for erasing the information,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the erasing unit preferentially erases information stored in an area closest to an area accessed by the head of the hard disk. In an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, and a hard disk for storing information including images,
Erasing means for erasing the information,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the erasing unit performs erasing along a concentric circle formed by a disk of the hard disk. In an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, and a hard disk for storing information including images,
Erasing means for erasing the information,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when there are a plurality of areas to be erased, each of the areas to be erased is erased alternately. Hardware resources used in image formation processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, a hard disk that stores information including images, and each divided area obtained by dividing the hard disk into a plurality of areas Erasing information indicating whether or not to perform erasing, grouped erasing information obtained by grouping the plurality of erasing information, and erasing count information determined based on the grouping erasing information. An erasing method,
An erasure determination step of determining whether there is a divided area to be erased among the plurality of divided areas corresponding to the grouped erasure information that defines the erasure count information; and
An erasing step of executing erasing of the divided areas corresponding to the erasing information based on the erasing information corresponding to the plurality of divided areas determined to be divided in the erasing judging step. How to erase. 16. The erasing method according to claim 15, wherein the erase count information is the number of divided areas to be erased among divided areas corresponding to erase information belonging to the grouped erase information. 16. The erasing method according to claim 15, wherein the erasing information is expressed by 1 bit, and one value indicated by the bit indicates that erasing of the divided area corresponding to the erasing information is executed. The erasing method according to claim 15, wherein the divided area is a cluster of the hard disk. A method of erasing the information in an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, and a hard disk for storing information including images,
An erasing step of erasing information stored in the hard disk;
A erasing method comprising: a waiting time determining step of determining a waiting time from when the erasing means finishes processing to when processing is started again. Having a read / write stage for reading and writing to the hard disk;
20. The erasing method according to claim 19, wherein, in the waiting time determining step, the waiting time is determined based on an access queue that manages an order of processing in the erasing step and the read / write step. Having a read / write stage for reading and writing to the hard disk;
20. The erasing method according to claim 19, wherein in the waiting time determining step, the waiting time is extended when the processing in the erasing step is hindered by the processing of the read / write means. The erasing method according to claim 21, wherein, in the waiting time determining step, the waiting time is extended based on the number of times the processing in the erasing step is hindered. A method of erasing the information in an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, and a hard disk for storing information including images,
An erasing step of erasing the information;
An erasing method characterized by suspending execution of a process in the erasing stage if there is a process having a higher priority order that determines the priority for executing the process than the process in the erasing stage. A method of erasing the information in an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, and a hard disk for storing information including images,
An erasing step of erasing the information;
An erasing time setting step for setting a time taken for one erasing in the erasing step;
And an erasing information amount measuring step of measuring an erasable information amount at a time set by the erasing time setting time. A method of erasing the information in an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, and a hard disk for storing information including images,
An erasing step of erasing the information,
In the erasing step, the information stored on the inner circumference side of the disk of the hard disk is preferentially erased. A method of erasing the information in an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, and a hard disk for storing information including images,
An erasing step of erasing the information,
The erasing method preferentially erases information stored in an area closest to an area most recently accessed by the head of the hard disk. A method of erasing the information in an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, and a hard disk for storing information including images,
An erasing step of erasing the information,
In the erasing step, erasing is performed along concentric circles formed by a disk of the hard disk. A method of erasing the information in an image forming apparatus having hardware resources used in image forming processing, a program for performing processing relating to image formation, and a hard disk for storing information including images,
An erasing step of erasing the information,
In the erasing step, when there are a plurality of areas to be erased, each area to be erased is erased alternately.