JP2005292988A - Information processor, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a control unit small, to reduce the space for an information processor, and to confirm the operation state of a processing in the control unit without using a debugging device. <P>SOLUTION: For example, data which indicates the operation state of the processing in one control unit A among the two control units is outputted to a previously arranged display output means which is arranged in the other control unit B. The control unit B which inputs the data concerning the operation state converts the data concerning the operation state into data which can be outputted by the display output means of the control unit B. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus including a control unit having a plurality of processing units that execute independent processes, and in particular, displays and outputs an operation state of the process performed by the control unit. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus capable of confirming whether or not the process is performed.

  Information processing apparatuses such as recent image forming apparatuses and personal computers are equipped with a plurality of control units (also referred to as control boards and control boards) on which CPUs, ROMs, RAMs, and the like are mounted. The system (control system) is constructed. Conventionally, in order to check and find bugs in information processing devices with such a structure (program errors and causes of processing malfunctions), the program to be debugged is executed for each control unit, and the operating status of the processing being executed And the operation status of the control unit are monitored, and the monitoring result is output to a debugger (software that supports bug discovery and correction work) or a debugging terminal in which the debugger is installed.

Here, a method for confirming the operation state of the control unit in the conventional image forming apparatus Y will be briefly described with reference to the system block diagram of FIG. Reference numeral 100 in the figure denotes a compression / decompression card (an example of a control unit), and reference numeral 200 denotes a network interface card (an example of a control unit, hereinafter referred to as “NIC”), both of which are main units of the image forming apparatus Y. Attached to the board etc. In addition to the compression / decompression card 100 and the NIC 200, the image forming apparatus Y is equipped with a control unit. However, for simplicity of explanation, only the two control units (the compression / decompression card 100 and the NIC 200) are attached. An example will be described.
In the image forming apparatus Y, the compression / decompression card 100 and the NIC 200 are communicably connected via an internal bus 10 via bus I / Fs 104 and 204, and contacts other than the internal bus are connected to each other. There is no. The conventional image forming apparatus Y is provided with an adapter 11 (debugging interface) that enables connection between the compression / decompression card 100 and the NIC 200 and the debugging terminal 12. Are connected to serial I / Os 103 and 203 provided inside the computer. In the image forming apparatus Y, a state monitoring program for monitoring the operation state such as the compression / decompression process and the network communication process is executed. When the debugging terminal 12 is connected to the adapter 11, the monitoring process is performed. The result is output to the debugging terminal 12 via the serial I / O 103 and 203 and the adapter 11. The user first checks the operation state of the compression / decompression process in the compression / decompression card 100 and the operation state of the network communication process in the NIC 200 on the display screen of the debug terminal 12 by using the debug terminal 12. Can do.

On the other hand, in the field of communication systems, as shown in Patent Document 1, in the remote monitoring system in which the communication path between the master station and the slave station is duplicated, the slave station simulator is omitted when testing the master station. Therefore, by connecting the duplicated line interface circuits of the master station to each other, when the master station is tested in one supervisory control system, the master station is operated as a slave station simulator by the other supervisory control system. The test method used is well known.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 01-135289

However, as described above, in the conventional method of confirming the operation state of processing in the control unit using the debugging terminal or the like, a debugging interface such as the adapter 11 (FIG. 5) is provided for each control unit. As a result, it has been a hindrance to reducing the size of the control unit and thus saving the space for the information processing device. Further, when it becomes necessary to check the operation state of the processing in the control unit after the information processing apparatus is provided to the user, the debugging terminal and an adapter (not shown) for connecting the debugging terminal and the control unit are bothered. Signal converters etc.) must be taken to the place where the information processing apparatus is located, which has been a burden on the confirmation worker. In the first place, the fact that the operation state of the process cannot be confirmed without using the debugging terminal or the like itself lacked convenience.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to reduce the size of the control unit, to save space in the information processing apparatus, and to operate the processing state in the control unit. Can be output to existing display means such as other output devices installed on the network without using the above debugging terminal, etc., to improve convenience when checking the operating status In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of reducing the burden of labor of a confirmation worker by eliminating the carrying work of the debugging terminal and the like.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention outputs predetermined data to one or more control units each having a plurality of processing means for executing independent processing and to display means provided outside and / or inside the machine. Display output processing means, wherein the control unit includes a unique processing means for executing unique processing in the control unit, and the unique processing executed by the unique processing means. In an information processing apparatus comprising state monitoring processing means for executing processing for monitoring the operation state of the apparatus, and monitoring result output processing means for outputting a monitoring result by the state monitoring processing means to the outside of the control unit,
Connection means for transmitting the monitoring result output by the monitoring result output processing means to the display output processing means is provided between the control unit and the display output processing means, and the predetermined data is The information processing apparatus is configured to be the monitoring result output from the monitoring result output processing means and input to the display output processing means via the connection means.
Thereby, it becomes possible to display the operation state of the processing unique to the control unit on the existing display means. As a result, since the operation state can be confirmed without using a debugging terminal or the like as in the prior art, the convenience in monitoring the operation state can be improved. In addition, it is possible to eliminate the connector and interface for checking the operation state that have been conventionally provided in the control unit, and it is possible to reduce the size of the control unit and save the space of the information processing apparatus. In addition, since it is not necessary to carry a debugging terminal or the like in order to confirm the operation state, the labor burden on the confirmation operator can be reduced.

When the information processing apparatus includes two or more control units, the monitoring result output processing means included in the two or more control units is input to a data input unit provided in the control unit. Based on the data, the monitoring result by the state monitoring processing means is output to the outside of the control unit from the data output unit provided in the control unit, and at least one of the two or more control units is A display that includes the display output processing means, and outputs predetermined data to display means provided outside and / or inside the information processing apparatus by executing the unique processing by the unique processing means. An output control unit that is different from the display output control unit in the data output unit of the other control unit and the display output control unit. Connecting means for electrically connecting the data input unit of the unit and transmitting the monitoring result output from the data output unit by the monitoring result output processing means to the display output control unit is the other control unit. And the display output control unit, and the predetermined data is output from the data output unit of the other control unit and is connected to the data input unit of the display output control unit via the connection means. It can be considered that the monitoring result is input.
Even in the information processing apparatus configured as described above, the control unit can be reduced, the space of the information processing apparatus can be reduced, and the burden on the confirmation worker can be reduced.

  Further, the display output processing means may output the monitoring result to the display means according to the connection state of the connection means. For example, switching means for switching connection / disconnection of the connection means is provided in the display output control unit or the information processing apparatus, and the monitoring result is displayed in conjunction with connection / disconnection switched by the switching means. It is conceivable that the output processing is performed on the means.

Further, the display means may be a terminal device such as a personal computer connected to the display output processing means or the display output control unit via a network.
When the information processing apparatus is an image forming apparatus including a print output unit that prints out the input image data and / or a display panel that displays various data, the display unit includes the print unit. The output means and / or the display panel may be used.

  As described above, the present invention includes a unique processing unit that executes unique processing in the control unit, and a state monitoring processing unit that executes processing for monitoring the operation state of the unique processing executed by the unique processing unit. Output processing of predetermined data to a control unit having a monitoring result output processing means for outputting a monitoring result from the state monitoring processing means to the outside of the control unit, and a display means provided outside and / or inside the machine. A display output processing means for connecting the control unit and the display output to the display output processing means for connecting the monitoring result output by the monitoring result output processing means to the display output processing means. The predetermined data is output by the monitoring result output processing means and is output via the connection means. Because it is constituted as an information processing apparatus, characterized in that the said monitoring result input to the processing means, it is possible to display the operating state of the specific processing of the control unit to an existing display unit. Thereby, since the said operation state can be confirmed without using a debugging terminal etc. conventionally, the convenience in the case of monitoring the said operation state can be improved. In addition, it is possible to eliminate the connector and interface for checking the operation state that have been conventionally provided in the control unit, and it is possible to reduce the size of the control unit and save the space of the information processing apparatus. In addition, since it is not necessary to carry a debugging terminal or the like in order to confirm the operation state, the labor burden on the confirmation operator can be reduced.

  When the information processing apparatus includes two or more control units, the monitoring result output processing means included in the two or more control units is input to a data input unit provided in the control unit. Based on the data, the monitoring result by the state monitoring processing means is output to the outside of the control unit from the data output unit provided in the control unit, and at least one of the two or more control units is A display that includes the display output processing means, and outputs predetermined data to display means provided outside and / or inside the information processing apparatus by executing the unique processing by the unique processing means. An output control unit that is different from the display output control unit and that is different from the data output unit and the display output control unit. Connecting means for electrically connecting the data input unit of the unit and transmitting the monitoring result output from the data output unit by the monitoring result output processing means to the display output control unit is the other control unit. And the display output control unit, and the predetermined data is output from the data output unit of the other control unit and is connected to the data input unit of the display output control unit via the connection means. Since the monitoring result is input, the control unit can be reduced, the information processing apparatus can be reduced in space, and the burden on the confirmation worker can be reduced.

Hereinafter, embodiments and examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present invention can be understood. It should be noted that the following embodiments and examples are examples embodying the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing the control system of the image forming apparatus X1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of processing executed in the control unit of the image forming apparatus X1. 3 is a system block diagram showing a control system of the image forming apparatus X2 according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a system block diagram showing a control system of the image forming apparatus X3 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a system block diagram showing a control system of the image forming apparatus Y of FIG.

  First, the outline of the image forming apparatus X1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the system block diagram shown in FIG. Here, the image forming apparatus X1 represents a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, a printer apparatus, or a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having functions of these apparatuses. The present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus X1, and can be applied to any information processing apparatus.

  Similar to the conventional image forming apparatus Y shown in FIG. 5, the image forming apparatus X1 includes a compression / decompression card 100 (an example of a control unit) that compresses or expands input image data, and the image forming apparatus X1. Network interface card (hereinafter referred to as NIC) 200 (hereinafter referred to as “NIC”) 200 that outputs various types of data (including monitoring results described later) to network terminals 21 and 22 (an example of display means) provided outside the image forming apparatus X1. A display output processing means, an example of a control unit), and a plurality of other control cards (control units) (not shown), and the control card inserted into the main board of the image forming apparatus X1 The control cards are connected to each other via the internal bus 10 so as to be able to communicate with each other.Further, unlike the conventional image forming apparatus Y (FIG. 5), the image forming apparatus X1 is connected to the compression / decompression card 100 and the NIC 200 through a transmission line 30 which is an example of a connection means capable of transmitting data. The monitoring result described later output from the compression / decompression card 100 is input to the NIC 200 via the transmission path 30. The transmission path 30 is an example of the connection means as described above, and may be any one that electrically connects the compression / decompression card 100 and the NIC 200, for example, a communication cable such as a flat cable, Alternatively, a pattern that is electrically connected by a pattern provided on the substrate of the compression / decompression card 100 and the NIC 200 and a pattern on a main board (not shown) on which each card is mounted may be considered. The image forming apparatus X1 includes a well-known image forming unit (not shown), an operation panel (operation display unit), and the like, but these well-known components are not directly related to the present invention. Since it is a thing, description here is abbreviate | omitted.

Here, the configuration of the compression / decompression card 100 and the NIC 200 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the compression / decompression card 100 includes a RAM 102 used as a data expansion area or a temporary storage area, and a serial I / O (serial input / output section, an example of a data input section and a data output section). (Hereinafter referred to as SIO) 103, ROM 110 storing each program to be described later, and bus I / F 104 enabling communication connection with the NIC 200 or other control card or other device via the internal bus 10. And a CPU 101 (central processing unit) that performs overall control of each of the above-described components by executing arithmetic processing according to a predetermined program.
The ROM 110 stores a compression / decompression program 111 for executing image data compression / decompression processing (corresponding to unique processing) in the compression / decompression card 100, data input to the SIO 103, and data output from the SIO 103. The SIO control program 112 for controlling the serial transfer processing and the status monitoring program 113 for executing the processing (status monitoring processing) for monitoring the operation status of the compression / decompression processing are stored. In the present embodiment, in order to simplify the description, the compression / decompression program 111 is composed of module programs P1 to Pn, and the compression / decompression processing is realized by sequentially executing the module programs P1 to Pn. Although described as a thing, it is not the meaning limited in particular to this.
Each program stored in the ROM 110 is read by the CPU 101, and the compression / decompression process, the serial transfer process, and the state monitoring process are executed by performing arithmetic processing according to the read program. . Therefore, for example, when image data to be compressed (or compressed data to be expanded) is input from the internal bus 10 via the bus I / F 104, the input image data (or compressed data) is input by the CPU 101. The compressed (or expanded) data is compressed (or expanded) by performing the compression / decompression process to be executed, and the compressed data (or expanded image data) is sent to the internal bus 10 via the bus I / F 104 again. And transmitted to another control card (not shown). As described above, data (image data, compressed data, etc.) subject to compression / decompression processing, which is unique to the compression / decompression card 100, enters the compression / decompression card 100 via the bus I / F 104. It is output and not input / output from the SIO 103.

  The SIO 103 is an example of a data input unit and a data output unit as described above. However, data input / output via the SIO 103 is monitored by the CPU 101 executing the state monitoring process. It is a numerical value of a variable (corresponding to a monitoring result) indicating an operation state of compression / decompression processing (the variable and the numerical value will be described later with reference to a flowchart). Therefore, other data such as the image data is not input / output from the SIO 103. Therefore, the serial transfer processing executed by the CPU 101 is also processing for outputting the monitoring result from the SIO 103 to the outside of the compression / decompression card 100 (monitoring result output processing). In the present embodiment, since the compression / decompression card 100 is not provided with a display output function, a control card other than the compression / decompression card 100 that is required to display and output (such as the NIC 200 or another control card). The monitoring result of the operation state is not input to the compression / decompression card 100.

As shown in FIG. 1, the NIC 200 is configured in substantially the same manner as the compression / decompression card 100. That is, a bus I that enables communication connection between the RAM 202, the SIO 203, the ROM 210 storing each program to be described later, and the compression / decompression card 100 or other control cards or other devices via the internal bus 10. / F204 and CPU201 are comprised. Further, unlike the compression / decompression card 100, the NIC 200 has a network I / F (hereinafter referred to as NETI / F) that enables network connection with the network terminals 21 and 22 via the network 20 such as a LAN. ) 220 is provided.
The ROM 210 outputs the data input from the bus I / F 204 to the network terminals 21 and 22 or the like, or the data and commands input from the network terminals 21 and 22 from the bus I / F 204 to the other A network communication program 211 (hereinafter abbreviated as a communication program) for executing a so-called network communication process (corresponding to a unique process) output to the control card, etc., and output from the compression / decompression card 100 and input to the NIC 200 Based on the monitored result (monitoring result obtained by monitoring the operation state of the compression / decompression process executed by the compression / decompression card 100), WEB-viewable data such as HTML format (hereinafter referred to as WEB page data) is generated. WEB page generation program that executes processing (WEB page generation processing) 214, the SIO control program 212 for controlling the serial transfer processing of the data input to the SIO 203 and the data output from the SIO 203, and the processing (status monitoring processing) for monitoring the operation state of the network communication processing are executed. A state monitoring program 213 for storing the information is stored. Therefore, for example, when predetermined data is input from the internal bus 10 via the bus I / F 204, the input data is subjected to the network communication process executed by the CPU 201, whereby the NETI / F 220 is input. To the network 20 and output to the network terminals 21 and 22. Further, when predetermined data or commands are input from the network terminals 21 and 22 to the NETI / F 220 via the network 20, the input data and the like are subjected to the network communication processing, thereby causing the bus I / F. The data is sent from the F204 to the internal bus 10 and transmitted to another control card (not shown). As described above, also in the NIC 200, data to be subjected to network communication processing, which is unique processing, is input / output to / from the NIC 200 via the bus I / F 204.
The SIO 203 is a data input unit for inputting the monitoring result output from the compression / decompression card 100 to the NIC 200, and other data other than the monitoring result is not input / output in the SIO 203. In the present embodiment, the network communication process, which is a process unique to the NIC 200, corresponds to a display output process for outputting predetermined data to the network terminals 21 and 22 which are examples of display means. Is an example of the control unit and an example of the display output processing means, but is not particularly limited thereto.

Next, with reference to the flowcharts (a) and (b) of FIG. 2, an example of the procedure of each process executed in the compression / decompression card 100 and the NIC 200 according to the programs stored in the ROMs 110 and 210 will be described. explain. The flowchart (a) shows an example of a processing procedure executed by the CPU 101 in the compression / decompression card 100, and the flowchart (b) shows an example of a processing procedure executed by the CPU 201 in the NIC 200. In the figure, S10, S20,... Indicate process procedure (step) numbers, and the process starts from step S10. Here, a description will be given of a processing example in which the monitoring result of the operation state of the compression / decompression process in the compression / decompression card 100 is output to the NIC 200, and then the monitoring result is displayed and output to the network terminals 21 and 22 by the NIC 200. To do. The compression / decompression process executed by the compression / decompression card 100 is described as a process realized by sequentially executing the module programs P1 to Pn constituting the compression signal program 111 as described above. When the module programs _{P1 to Pn} are executed, variables V _{P1 to} V _Pn unique to the module programs _{P1 to Pn} are used. Here, the variables V _{P1 to} V _Pn are indexes indicating the execution status of the module programs _{P1 to Pn} , and the processing status of the compression / decompression processing is determined by monitoring the numerical values of these variables V _{P1 to} V _Pn. It can be grasped. The storage areas for the variables V _{P1 to} V _Pn are allocated in advance on the RAM 102. Therefore, if the values of the variables V _{P1 to} V _Pn can be confirmed when the compression / decompression process is executed, it is determined whether the compression / decompression process is properly performed. Judgment can be made.

First, a processing procedure executed in the compression / decompression card 100 will be described.
In the compression / decompression card 100, when image data is input from the bus I / F 104, the module program P1 constituting the compression signal program 111 is activated for the input image data, and the module program P1 A process based on the above is executed by the CPU 101 (S10). When the module program P1 is executed, a numerical value suitable for the processing of the module program P1 is assigned to the storage area of the variable V _P1 allocated to the RAM 102.
Subsequently, in step S20, the CPU 101 reads the numerical value (corresponding to the monitoring result) of the variable V _P1 used in the processing of the module program P1. For example, such a reading process may be a process of constantly monitoring the numerical value storage area of the variable V _P1 allocated on the RAM 102 and reading the changed numerical value when the content of the storage area changes.
In step S20, the value of the variable V _P1 of the inner RAM102 are read, followed by numerical values of the variables V _P1 read above is transferred to the SIO103, the NIC200 through the transmission path 30 The data is output to the SIO 203 (S30).
Thereafter, in step S40, it is determined whether there is a process to be executed next (process based on the module program). If there is a next process, the process from S10 is repeated. When all the processes based on the module programs P1 to Pn are executed, the compression / decompression process ends.

Next, a processing procedure executed in the NIC 200 will be described.
In the NIC 200, in step S110, it is determined whether or not the numerical value of the variable V _P1 has been input from the compression / decompression card 100. Here, if it is determined that the numerical data is input, then the WEB page generation process is performed based on the numerical value of the input variable V _P1 to generate HTML data (S120). That is, the numerical value of the variable V _P1 is converted (generated) into HTML data that can be displayed on the network terminals 21 and 22.
The HTML data generated in step S120 is temporarily stored in the RAM 202 (S130). Thereafter, the NIC 200 waits for access from the network terminals 21 and 22 to the NIC 200. If the NIC 200 is accessed during this time, the numerical HTML data of the variable V _P1 stored in the RAM 202 is transmitted to the access source network terminal via the network 20 (S150).
Thereafter, in step S160, it is determined whether or not a numerical value for the next variable has been input. If there is a numerical value for the next variable, the process from S110 is repeated, and if not, the process ends.
As described above, since the NIC 200 displays the numerical value of the variable indicating the operation state of the compression / decompression process, which is a unique process of the compression / decompression card 100, on the network terminal (display means), it does not use a debugging terminal or the like. The operating state of the compression / decompression process can be confirmed. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the confirmation (debugging terminal) connector and interface that are conventionally provided in the compression / decompression card 100, thereby reducing the size of the compression / decompression card 100 and thus saving the space of the image forming apparatus X1. Can be realized.
In this embodiment, HTML data is sequentially generated from the numerical values of the variables sequentially input in step S110 (S120) and transmitted to the network terminal. For example, in step S110, variables V _{P1 to} V _An embodiment in which HTML data is generated from all the numerical values of the variables V _{P1 to} V _Pn and transmitted to the network terminal after all the numerical values of _Pn are completed may be used.
In the present embodiment, the operation state of the compression / decompression process in the compression / decompression card 100 is monitored, and the monitoring result is output to the network terminal by the NIC 200. The embodiment may be such that the NIC 200 outputs the monitoring result of the operation state of the processing in the card (control unit) to the network terminal. As a result, it is possible to check the operation states of the processing of a plurality of control cards at a time.

Next, the image forming apparatus X2 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the system block diagram of FIG. Here, as described in the above-described embodiment, the operation state of the compression / decompression process is confirmed by causing the network terminals 21 and 22 to display and output the monitoring result of the operation state of the compression / decompression process in the compression / decompression card 100. A description will be given of an embodiment in which the operation state of the compression / decompression process using a conventional debugging terminal can be confirmed. The outline of the image forming apparatus X2 will be described below. In addition, about the same element as the structure in the above-mentioned embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected in a figure and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
The image forming apparatus X2 is roughly configured by a compression / decompression card 100a configured substantially similar to the compression / decompression card 100 of the image forming apparatus X1 and a NIC 200a configured substantially similar to the NIC 200 of the image forming apparatus X1. ing. The image forming apparatus X1 is the same as the image forming apparatus X1 described above in that a transmission path 30 is provided to input the monitoring result output from the compression / decompression card 100a to the NIC 200a. However, the difference between the image forming apparatus X2 and the image forming apparatus X1 is that the compression / decompression card 100a and the NIC 200a are able to check the operation state of the compression / decompression process using the conventional debugging terminal 12. The adapter 11 that enables connection to the debugging terminal 12 is provided on each of the cards, and the SIOs 103 and 203 of the compression / decompression card 100a and the NIC 200a and the adapter 11 Is connected to the debugging terminal 12 in a communicable manner.
As shown in FIG. 3, the NIC 200a includes a parallel I / O (parallel input / output unit, hereinafter referred to as PIO) 205, and a switching means such as a switch in the vicinity of the connection portion on the SIO 203 side of the transmission line 30. The image forming apparatus X1 is also different from the image forming apparatus X1 in that a contact signal generator 207 that inputs an ON / OFF signal to the PIO 205 is provided in conjunction with the switching means 206.

The switching means 206 switches connection / disconnection of the transmission line 30 that connects the SIO 103 of the compression / decompression card 100a and the NIC 200a. By switching the switching means 206, when the cable 30 is connected, the input line 31 to the SIO 203 of the adapter 11 is disconnected, and when the cable 30 is disconnected (not connected), An input line 31 is connected. At this time, an ON / OFF signal is output from the contact signal generator 207 to the PIO 205 in conjunction with connection / disconnection of the transmission line 30.
In the image forming apparatus X2 configured in this way, the compression / decompression card 100a shown in FIG. 2 is used only when the transmission path 30 is connected by the switching means 206 according to the connection state of the transmission path 30. The monitoring result (obtained by monitoring the operation state of the compression / decompression process executed by the compression / decompression card 100a) output to the transmission path 30 by performing the same processing as the processing procedure shown in the flowchart (a). The monitoring result can be displayed and output from the NIC 200a to the network terminal (see the flowchart (b) in FIG. 2). In this case, by using the ON signal input to the PIO 205 as a start trigger for the WEB page generation processing and the transmission processing of WEB data in HTML format generated by the WEB page generation processing, the debugging terminal 12 is used. It is possible to prevent complications between the conventional treatment used and the treatment according to the present invention.

  Next, an image forming apparatus X3 according to a modification of the present invention will be described. In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the monitoring result output from the compression / decompression card 100 and input to the NIC 200 is displayed and output from the NIC 200 to the network terminals 21 and 22 has been described. However, for example, as shown in the system block diagram of FIG. 4, the image data input from the bus I / F 304 via the internal bus 10 is converted into data that can be printed out by the image forming apparatus X3, so that a known image is obtained. A printer control card (hereinafter referred to as PRC) 300 (an example of a display output processing unit and a control unit) that outputs to a forming unit (not shown), and the NIC 200 (display output processing unit and control unit) of the image forming apparatus X1 described above. The image forming apparatus X3 is configured such that the PRC 300 and the NIC 200 are connected by transmission lines 30 and 30a (an example of connection means). If there is, the monitoring result output from the PRC 300 and input to the NIC 200 via the transmission path 30 (the PRC 30 The monitoring result obtained by monitoring the operation state of the image forming process executed in step (1) can be displayed and output to the network terminal by the NIC 200, and conversely, the output from the NIC 200 and the transmission line 30a. The monitoring result (monitoring result obtained by monitoring the operation state of the network communication process executed by the NIC 200) input to the PRC 300 via the operation panel I / F 310 by the image forming process of the PRC 300. It is possible to output to the operation panel 13 or to an image forming unit (not shown). In this case, the operation panel 13 and the image forming unit correspond to display means.

FIG. 3 is a system block diagram showing a control system of the image forming apparatus X1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure of processing executed in the control unit of the image forming apparatus X1. 4 is a system block showing a control system of the image forming apparatus X2 according to the embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a system block showing a control system of the image forming apparatus X3 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a system block diagram illustrating a control system of a conventional image forming apparatus Y.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Internal bus 20 ... Network 21, 22 ... Network terminal (an example of a display means)
30, 30a ... transmission path (an example of connection means)
100, 100a ... compression / decompression card (an example of a control unit)
200, 200a... Network interface card (an example of display output processing means and control unit)
300... Printer control card (an example of display processing means and control unit)

Claims (6)

One or more control units each having a plurality of processing means for performing independent processing;
Display output processing means for outputting predetermined data to display means provided outside and / or inside the machine, and an information processing apparatus comprising:
The above control unit
Unique processing means for performing unique processing in the control unit;
State monitoring processing means for executing processing for monitoring the operation state of the specific processing executed by the specific processing means;
In an information processing apparatus having monitoring result output processing means for outputting a monitoring result by the state monitoring processing means to the outside of the control unit,
Connection means for transmitting the monitoring result output by the monitoring result output processing means to the display output processing means is provided between the control unit and the display output processing means,
The information processing apparatus, wherein the predetermined data is the monitoring result output from the monitoring result output processing means and input to the display output processing means via the connection means. The information processing apparatus includes two or more control units;
The monitoring result output processing means included in the two or more control units is provided with the monitoring result of the state monitoring processing means provided in the control unit based on data input to a data input unit provided in the control unit. Output from the data output unit to the outside of the control unit,
At least one of the two or more control units includes the display output processing means, and is provided outside and / or inside the information processing apparatus by executing the unique processing by the unique processing means. A display output control unit for outputting predetermined data to a given display means,
The data output unit of another control unit different from the display output control unit and the data input unit of the display output control unit are electrically connected, and the monitoring result output processing means is connected to the data output unit. Connection means for transmitting the output monitoring result to the display output control unit is provided between the other control unit and the display output control unit,
The said predetermined data is the said monitoring result output from the said data output part of the said other control unit, and was input into the said data input part of the said display output control unit via the said connection means. Information processing device.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display output processing unit outputs the monitoring result to the display unit according to a connection state of the connection unit. The display output control unit further includes switching means for switching connection / disconnection of the connection means,
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display output processing means outputs the monitoring result to the display means in conjunction with connection / disconnection switched by the switching means.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is a terminal device connected to the display output processing unit or the display output control unit via a network. The information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is an image forming apparatus comprising a print output means for printing out input image data and / or a display panel for displaying various data. ,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the display means is the print output means and / or the display panel.

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