JP2006238324A - Method and apparatus to input and output information - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and apparatus to input and output information for warranting real-time by inquiring about whether or not a resource can be acquired for a job calling for real-time as a requirement before performance of the job and permitting performance of the job when it is discriminated that the resource can be acquired for the job. <P>SOLUTION: The method is characterized by including: a hardware image processing step of image processing by use of hardware; a software image processing step of image processing by use of software; an image data storage step of storing image data; a job resource management step of managing requests of use of resources from jobs; a resource acquisition inquiry step of inquiring about whether or not a resource required for a job can be acquired before start of the job; a resource acquisition discrimination step of discriminating whether or not the resource requested in the resource acquisition inquiry step can be acquired on the basis of job information and resource information managed in the job resource management step; and a resource acquisition notice step of informing the job about a result of the discrimination by the resource acquisition discrimination step. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information input / output method and information input / output related to a multi-function copier that executes resources such as a memory and an image processing device while exchanging resources necessary for the execution of the job among a plurality of input jobs. It relates to the device.

  In multi-function copiers, resources such as memory and image processing devices are shared by multiple jobs such as copying, faxing, and PDL printing, and resources are saved by executing jobs while excluding resources. Yes.

On the other hand, in an image forming system, a proposal has been made to reduce the occurrence rate of batting relating to the right to use a double-sided device between a plurality of applications (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-7-107230

  However, in the above-described conventional procedure, when a job occupies a long time, if a job requiring real-time characteristics (for example, FAX manual transmission) is submitted later, the end of the previous job must be waited. In other words, real-time performance cannot be guaranteed. In particular, in the case of Fax manual transmission, if a resource cannot be acquired after a call is made, it means that “transmission cannot be performed while the line is connected”.

  Further, in Patent Document 1, when resources are not available, the acquisition request is issued again after being released, and the response method is not switched according to the job type.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points. An information input / output method capable of guaranteeing real-time performance for a job that requires real-time performance, such as FAX manual transmission, and the like. An object is to provide an information input / output device.

In order to solve the problems described above, the present invention provides:
Managing hardware image processing means for image processing by hardware, software image processing means for image processing by software, image data storage means for storing image data, and usage requests for resources from jobs Requested by the resource inquiry means from the job information and resource information managed by the job resource management means, the resource acquisition inquiry means for inquiring whether necessary resources can be acquired before starting the job, and the job resource management means Resource acquisition determination means for determining whether or not the acquired resource can be acquired, and resource acquisition notification means for notifying the job of the determination result by the resource acquisition determination means.

  The resource acquisition notifying unit may change a notification method according to the job type.

  Further, the resource acquisition notifying means determines whether real time property is required for the execution of the job, whether the start of the job can be waited until a predetermined time, or whether the start time is not limited, and The result of the resource acquisition determining means is notified to the job.

  In addition, when the resource acquisition notifying unit determines that the resource acquisition is impossible, the job acquisition prohibiting unit prohibits the job input.

  In addition, a job start button for starting the job is provided, and the job submission prohibiting unit prevents the start button from being operated.

  According to the information input / output method and information input / output apparatus of the present invention, an inquiry is made before a job is submitted as to whether or not resources can be acquired, and if it is determined that acquisition is possible, job submission is permitted. Thus, it is possible to guarantee the real time property for a job that requires real time property such as FAX manual transmission.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic system configuration of an information input / output device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The contents of FIG. 1 will be described. The information input / output device 101 according to the present embodiment is connected to a local area network (LAN) 102 and is also connected to a public telephone network (PSTN) 103 at the same time. A plurality of workstations (information processing terminals) 104 are connected to the LAN 102. The public telephone network 103 is connected to a provider 106 that provides an Internet connection service, an Internet facsimile machine 105, a facsimile machine 105, and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the information input / output device of the present invention. Each component in FIG. 2 is connected to a system bus 201 and an image bus 210. A ROM 202 is a boot ROM, and stores a system boot program. Further, system software for realizing each means of the present invention is stored in the ROM 202 or the storage memory 205 and is executed by the CPU 203. A RAM 204 is a system work memory area for the CPU 203 to execute software, and is also an image memory for temporarily storing image data.

  The storage memory 205 stores facsimile code data, image data, system software, and the like. A LAN (local area network) I / F unit 206 is an I / F unit for connecting to a LAN, and performs input / output of information with each device connected to the LAN. The line I / F unit 207 is connected to an ISDN or a public telephone network, is controlled by a communication control program in the ROM 202, and transmits data to a remote terminal via the ISDNI / F, a modem, and an NCU (network control unit). The function to send and receive is installed.

  The above devices are arranged on the system bus 201. The IO control A unit 209 is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 201 and the image bus 210 that transfers image data at high speed and converts the data structure of the system bus 201. The image bus 210 is configured by a PCI bus or IEEE1394. The following devices are arranged on the image bus 210. The control unit 216 is connected to the reading unit 214 or the printer unit 213 which is an image input / output device, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data.

  The image processing unit 211 corrects, processes, and edits input and output image data. The image conversion unit 212 performs compression / decompression processing such as rotation, compression / decompression of binary image data, conversion between binary and multi-values, image density conversion, JPEG, JBIG, MR, MMR, and the like. The IO control B unit 208 is an interface unit with the operation unit (UI = User Interface) 215, and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 215 to the operation unit 215. Further, it plays a role of transmitting information input by the system user from the operation unit 215 to the CPU 203. This is an I / F unit for software to control an operation unit 215 equipped with a display device and a keypad device.

  Processing programs such as job resource management means, resource acquisition inquiry means, resource acquisition determination means, and resource acquisition notification means for realizing the information input / output method of the present invention are stored in the ROM 202 and / or the storage memory 205 and executed by the CPU 203. Is done. Further, the hard image processing step is executed by the image conversion unit 212, and the soft image processing step is executed by the CPU 203.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the outline of the software configuration for controlling the information input / output device of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the software structure outline | summary of an information input / output device. The job management unit 301 is a part that receives jobs from users such as copy, scan, print, PDL print, Internet fax, and fax, forms a queue, and manages the execution order and execution status. Internally, it is divided into a copy job management unit 302, a scan job management unit 303, a print job management unit 304, a PDL job management unit 305, an IFAX job management unit 306, and a FAX job management unit 307. Manage execution status.

  Next, there is a processing unit that processes each job in units of pages. The scan page processing unit 308, the PDL page processing unit 309, the IFAX page processing unit 310, the FAX page processing unit 311, and the print page processing unit 312 are respectively a scan device 317, a print device 327, a PDL device 318, a network device 328, and a FAX device. 326 controls the image data in the memory and requests the image page processing unit 313 to perform necessary image processing. The image page processing unit 313 calculates the amount of memory and the number of resources required for image processing in accordance with image processing requests from various upper page processing units, requests the resource management unit 314 to allocate resources, and executes image processing. To do. The resource management unit 314 internally manages the image conversion device 319 and manages a device allocation priority, and a memory management unit 316 manages the number of memory devices 325 and the allocation priority. Divided into

  When accessing the hard disk, the image processing unit 313 makes a read / write request to the document management unit 329. The image management unit 329 accesses the SRAM device 331 to read / save various information about the image such as the image size and orientation, and reads / saves the image data to / from the HDD device 330.

  The image conversion device 319 internally receives an image conversion processing unit 321 that receives processing from an API (Application Program Interface) 320 and an image conversion API 320 according to the type of image conversion, and distributes the processing to each device. A software conversion virtual device management unit 322 that realizes processing, a code / decoding / rotation device management unit 323 that manages code / decoding / rotation devices that realize encoding / decoding / rotation, and a scaling device that realizes scaling A zooming device management unit 324 is provided. The soft conversion virtual device includes a CG (character generator) device, a white device that creates an entirely white image, a soft encoding device, a soft decoding device, a soft rotation device, a soft scaling device, and the like.

  The operation will be described below by taking a copy job flow as an example.

  The copy job requested by the user is accepted by the copy job management unit 302 and enters a standby state. Here, before the job starts, the copy job management unit 302 executes resource reservation, which will be described later, with respect to the resource management unit 314. If resources necessary for copying can be reserved here, the copying operation is started. The copy job management unit requests the scan page processing unit 308 to operate the scanner device 317, and at the same time the scan page processing unit 308 requests the image page processing unit 313 to request the resources necessary for scanning (images such as reduction and rotation). The processing device 323/324 and the memory device 325) for storing the image data are calculated and requested to the resource management unit 314.

  The resource management unit 314 requests the device management unit 315 to request the resource related to the image conversion device among the requested resources, and requests the memory management unit 316 to relate to the memory device. The device management unit 315 confirms the availability of a device to be managed, and if there is an available device group 319, obtains it from here and permits its use.

  Similarly, the memory management unit 316 also determines the type of the requested memory, confirms the availability of the memory device to be managed, and if there is an available memory device group 325, acquires it and permits its use. . If there is no space in either the device management unit or the memory management unit, an acquisition waiting queue is formed and acquired as soon as it is available. When resources are acquired in this way, the scan page processing unit 308 and the image page processing unit 313 scan the original and store it in the memory, and execute image processing.

  Next, the job management unit 301 requests the print page processing unit 312 to operate the printer device 327, and at the same time, the printer page processing unit 312 requests the image page processing unit 313 to request resources necessary for printing (reduction and rotation). The image processing device 323/324 and the memory device 325 for storing the image data are calculated and requested to the resource management unit 314. The resource management unit 314 acquires resources in the same manner as the scan. Thereafter, the image page processing unit 313 and the print page processing unit 312 perform image processing on the image data in the memory, print the document, and output the document.

  Next, resource acquisition will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 by taking as an example a FAX manual transmission that requires real-time characteristics for resource acquisition.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline sequence relating to a resource management unit of software for controlling the information input / output device of the present invention. As described with reference to FIG. 3, the job management unit 301 makes a reservation inquiry 401 for resources used exclusively during job execution before starting the job, and determines whether to execute the job or wait. For example, in the case of FAX manual transmission, the timing of the resource reservation inquiry 401 is the hook-up timing. If the job resource can be acquired, the job is executed, and the image page processing unit 313 issues a reservation inquiry 402 for a resource to be used exclusively during the processing of the page. In this order of reservation, the resource management unit 314 determines the actual resource acquisition priority.

  Next, the image page processing unit 313 sends a resource acquisition request 403 to the resource management unit 314. As described above, the resource management unit makes a request to the internal device management unit 315 and the memory management unit 316 and sends a response 404 as to whether the resource has been acquired. The image page processing unit 313 uses these resources to perform various image processing to be described later. When the resources are used up, a resource release request 405 is issued. In response to this, the resource management unit 314 notifies the resource release response 406. Next, the image page processing unit 313 cancels 407 the resource exclusive use reservation made in 402. Finally, the job management unit 301 cancels 408 the resource reservation made at 401 when the job ends.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart relating to the resource reservation determination of the resource management unit of the software that controls the information input / output device of the present invention. When the job resource reservation 401 is called, the resource management unit 314 determines whether there is a memory resource in the resource list requested in step 501. If there is no memory resource in the requested resource list, the process proceeds to step 504. If memory resources are included, the process proceeds to step 502, and a memory reservation is requested to the memory management unit. The memory management unit determines the type of memory device and the number of files required to complete the job from the type of request source job and the content of the requested job, and searches for free memory from the managed memory.

  If the memory can be reserved, the process proceeds to step 504. If the memory cannot be reserved, the process proceeds to step 509. Next, in step 504, it is determined whether there is a device in the requested resource list. Here, if there is no device in the resource list, the process proceeds to step 508 for registering the job information to be reserved, and then the job resource reservation OK is returned (step 509). If the device is included in the resource list, the process proceeds to step 505. In step 505, the device management unit is requested to make a device reservation, and the device management unit determines whether or not the requested resource can be reserved in the managed resource list.

  If the device can be reserved in step 506, the process proceeds to step 507. On the other hand, if the reservation cannot be made, the process proceeds to step 509. In step 509, it is determined from the job type for which resource reservation has been made whether the job requires real-time characteristics or not. If the job requires real-time characteristics, the process proceeds to step 510, and the job NG is returned because the reservation could not be made. When the job reservation is NG in the manual FAX transmission, the FAX job management unit 307 that has received the response invalidates the start key operation by the user of the operation unit 215 via the job management unit 301, thereby submitting the job. Is displayed, and a message such as “Wait for the end of the currently active job when performing manual FAX transmission” is displayed on the display unit of the operation unit 215. On the other hand, if the real-time property is not required, the process proceeds to step 511, and the job reservation information is registered in the reservation waiting queue in order to restart the process from 401.

  The job reservation registered in the reservation waiting queue is processed again from 401, triggered by the job resource reservation cancellation 408 of the preceding job. However, for jobs that do not require real-time performance, but need to respond to job reservation results within a certain period of time, job reservation retries are performed in the reservation wait queue within a certain period of time. Deletes the job information from the reservation queue and returns NG because the job could not be reserved.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart relating to the resource acquisition processing of the resource management unit of the software that controls the information input / output device of the present invention.

  When the resource acquisition 403 is called, the resource management unit 314 determines whether there is a memory resource in the resource list requested in step 601. If there is a memory resource, the memory resource is acquired via the memory management unit in step 602. Next, if the memory resource can be acquired in step 603, or if there is no memory resource in step 601, the process proceeds to step 604 to start acquiring the device resource. If it is determined in step 603 that the memory could not be acquired, the process proceeds to step 608.

  In step 604, it is determined whether there is a device in the requested resource list. If there is a device, in step 605, the device is acquired via the device management unit. Next, if it is determined in step 606 that the device has been acquired, or if there is no device resource in step 604, the process proceeds to step 607, and OK is returned in response to the resource acquisition request.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 606 that the device cannot be acquired, the process proceeds to step 608. In step 608, in order to start resource acquisition again from step 403, the acquisition request information is registered in the resource acquisition waiting queue, and the process ends (step 609). The acquisition request registered in the resource acquisition queue is retried from step 403 with the page resource reservation release 407 of the preceding page as a trigger.

The figure which shows the whole system configuration of the information input / output device Diagram showing the overall configuration of the information input / output device The figure which shows the software composition outline of the information input / output device The figure which shows the sequence regarding the resource management part of an information input / output device Flow chart relating to resource reservation determination of resource management unit of information input / output device Flow chart regarding resource acquisition processing of resource management unit of information input / output device

Claims (10)

An information input / output method for inputting / outputting information by an information input / output device,
Hardware image processing steps for hardware image processing;
A software image processing step for software image processing;
An image data storage step for storing image data;
A job resource management process for managing use requests for resources from jobs;
A resource acquisition inquiry process for inquiring whether necessary resources can be acquired before starting the job;
A resource acquisition determination step of determining whether the resource requested by the resource inquiry step can be acquired from the job information and resource information managed by the job resource management step;
A resource acquisition notification step of notifying the job of a determination result by the resource acquisition determination step;
An information input / output method characterized by having   The information input / output method according to claim 1, wherein the resource acquisition notification step changes a notification method according to the job type.   The resource acquisition notifying step determines whether real-time property is required for execution of the job, whether the start of the job can be waited until a predetermined time, or whether there is no limit on the start time, and acquires the resource The information input / output method according to claim 1, wherein a result of the determination step is notified to the job.   4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a job submission prohibiting step for prohibiting the submission of the job when it is determined from the resource acquisition notifying step that acquisition of the resource is impossible. Information input / output method described in 1. A job start button for starting the job;
5. The information input / output method according to claim 4, wherein the job submission prohibiting step prevents the start button from being operated. An information input / output device for inputting / outputting information,
Hardware image processing means for image processing by hardware;
Software image processing means for image processing by software;
Image data storage means for storing image data;
Job resource management means for managing use requests for resources from jobs;
A resource acquisition inquiry means for inquiring whether necessary resources can be acquired before starting the job;
Resource acquisition determination means for determining whether the resource requested by the resource inquiry means can be acquired from the job information and resource information managed by the job resource management means;
Resource acquisition notification means for notifying the job of a determination result by the resource acquisition determination means;
An information input / output device characterized by having.   The information input / output apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the resource acquisition notification unit changes a notification method according to the job type.   The resource acquisition notifying means determines whether real-time performance is required for execution of the job, whether the start of the job can be waited until a predetermined time, and whether the start time is not limited, and acquires the resource The information input / output apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the job is notified of a result of the determination unit.   9. The job submission prohibiting unit for prohibiting the submission of the job when it is determined from the resource acquisition notifying unit that it is impossible to acquire the resource. The information input / output device described in 1. A job start button for starting the job;
The information input / output apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the job submission prohibiting unit disables operation of the start button.

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