JP2007110410A - Image forming apparatus and stream control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus and a stream control program capable of efficiently realizing stream control processing. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus for applying requested processing to data entered by an entry means selected among a plurality of entry means and outputting the processed data to an output means selected among a plurality of output means, includes: an interval management means for managing a state of intervals among devices through which the data pass between the input means and the output means; a path management means for managing the paths from the input means to the output means on the basis of the interval management means associated with each interval from the input means to the output means; and a path set management means for managing a set of the paths shared by the input means and the output means on the basis of the path management means associated with the paths in order to solve the task above. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a stream control program, and in particular, performs a requested process on data input from an input unit selected from a plurality of input units, and is selected from a plurality of output units. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a stream control program that output to the output unit.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a multi-function machine in which a plurality of functions such as a printer, a copy, and a scanner are stored in a single casing. In such a multifunction device, a plurality of applications called a printer application, a copy application, and a scanner application are mounted on a general-purpose OS such as UNIX (registered trademark), and a plurality of functions are realized while switching execution processes of these applications. It was.

  However, since the printer application, the copy application, and the scanner application perform engine control, memory control, system control, and the like separately, wasteful duplication processing has occurred.

  For this reason, in Patent Document 1, the applications such as engine control, memory control, and system control, which have been performed by a plurality of applications installed in the multifunction peripheral, are grouped from each application as a common processing part (platform). The development efficiency is improved.

Further, in Patent Document 2, print control software installed in a printing apparatus is composed of a plurality of software components based on object-oriented design, and printing processing is performed by cooperative operation of such component groups.
JP 2002-084383 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-327883

  However, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 shares a processing part for controlling hardware, and does not share all internal processes of each application. For this reason, there is still room for improvement in the application on the multifunction peripheral in order to improve the development efficiency.

  For example, when outputting image data input through an input device such as a scanner device to an output device such as a printer device, the input device and the output device are selected according to a user instruction, and the selected device is selected. The stream control process that controls the flow of data between them is a process that exists in common with each application on the copier, but is not implemented in each application separately because it is not a process that directly controls the hardware. It can be shared.

  The invention disclosed in Patent Document 2 is a print control software composed of a plurality of software components based on object-oriented design, and discloses a software component that controls the flow of data between an input device and an output device. It is not a thing. Therefore, even in the case where a software component corresponding to each input / output device is created by applying the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2 in a multi-function machine equipped with a large number of input / output devices, each input / output device is provided. Due to differences in processing speed of devices and differences in data units and data formats to be processed, it is not easy to efficiently control the data flow between devices.

  For these reasons, how to efficiently realize the stream control processing of the application installed in the multifunction peripheral has become a big issue. Note that such a problem does not arise only for the multifunction peripheral. For example, when a stream control device that has a plurality of input / output devices and controls the flow of data from each input device to each output device is formed. Is a similar problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a stream control program capable of efficiently realizing stream control processing.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, the present invention performs a requested process on data input from an input unit selected from a plurality of input units, and outputs selected from the plurality of output units. An image forming apparatus for outputting to a section, a section managing section for managing a state of a section between the devices through which the data passes between the input section and the output section; and from the input section to the output section A path management means for managing the state of the path from the input means to the output means based on the section management means for each section, and a set of the routes in common between the input means and the output means, Route collection management means for managing based on the route management means related to the route.

  In such an image forming apparatus, stream control processing can be realized efficiently.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus and a stream control program capable of efficiently realizing stream control processing.

  Exemplary embodiments of a stream control program according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus including a computer for executing the program will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to various apparatuses that perform stream control processing.

  First, an outline of an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “multifunction machine”) 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 11, and 12. FIG. 1 is a network diagram for explaining a network environment surrounding the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the MFP 1 shown in FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between software and hardware of the multifunction device 1 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 11 is an explanation for explaining the transition of the software configuration installed in the multifunction device 1. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between software and hardware of a conventional multifunction machine.

  As shown in FIG. 1, with the recent progress of networking, devices such as personal computers (PCs) provided in offices are connected to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) and can communicate with each other. It became normal. For example, as shown in the figure, such a network is connected to a client PC, an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server, an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server, a server PC, etc., for sending and receiving e-mails and transferring files. The modem-connected delivery server can communicate with a fax machine outside the office.

  With the progress of such networking, the multifunction device 1 is also connected to such a network and can communicate with a device such as a PC. By incorporating a storage device such as a hard disk, a so-called network multifunction device can be obtained. It has evolved to meet various user needs.

  For example, in addition to the normal copy function, the multifunction device 1 includes a printer function for printing document data or the like in response to a print request from the client PC, and a modem connected to the server PC for document data or the like in response to a fax request from the client PC. It has a fax function that sends it to fax machines in other offices via the Internet, and a storage function that stores received fax documents and copy documents on a built-in hard disk.

  In this way, in order to realize many functions required by the progress of compounding and networking, the software installed in the compound machine 1 is large and complicated. Along with this, the man-hours for developing and maintaining such software have also increased significantly.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the multifunction machine 1. As shown in the figure, the multifunction machine 1 has a configuration in which a controller 10 and an engine unit (Engine) 60 are connected by a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus. The controller 10 is a controller that controls the entire multifunction device 1 and controls drawing, communication, and input from an operation unit (not shown). The engine unit 60 is a printer engine that can be connected to a PCI bus, and is, for example, a monochrome plotter, a one-drum color plotter, a four-drum color plotter, a scanner, or a fax unit. The engine unit 60 includes an image processing part such as error diffusion and gamma conversion in addition to a so-called engine part such as a plotter.

  The controller 10 includes a CPU 11, a north bridge (NB) 13, a system memory (MEM-P) 12, a south bridge (SB) 14, a local memory (MEM-C) 17, and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). 16 and a hard disk drive (HDD) 18, and the north bridge (NB) 13 and the ASIC 16 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 15. The MEM-P 12 further includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 12a and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 12b.

  The CPU 11 performs overall control of the multifunction machine 1 and includes a chip set including the NB 13, the MEM-P 12, and the SB 14, and is connected to other devices via the chip set.

  The NB 13 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 11 to the MEM-P 12, SB 14, and AGP 15, and includes a memory controller that controls reading and writing to the MEM-P 12, a PCI master, and an AGP target.

  The MEM-P 12 is a system memory used as a memory for storing programs and data, a memory for developing programs and data, a memory for drawing a printer, and the like, and includes a ROM 12a and a RAM 12b. The ROM 12a is a read-only memory used as a memory for storing programs and data, and the RAM 12b is a writable and readable memory used as a program / data development memory, a printer drawing memory, and the like.

  The SB 14 is a bridge for connecting the NB 13 to a PCI device and peripheral devices. The SB 14 is connected to the NB 13 via a PCI bus, and a network interface (I / F) unit and the like are also connected to the PCI bus.

  The ASIC 16 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) for image processing applications having hardware elements for image processing, and has a role of a bridge for connecting the AGP 15, PCI bus, HDD 18 and MEM-C 17. The ASIC 16 includes a PCI target and an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that is the core of the ASIC 16, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 17, and a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory) that perform rotation of image data by hardware logic. Access Controller) and a PCI unit that performs data transfer between the engine unit 60 via the PCI bus. An FCU (Fax Control Unit) 30, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 40, and an IEEE 1394 (the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface 50 are connected to the ASIC 16 via a PCI bus.

  The MEM-C 17 is a local memory used as an image buffer for copying and a code buffer, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 18 is a storage for storing image data, programs, font data, and forms. It is.

  The AGP 15 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed for speeding up graphics processing. The AGP 15 speeds up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing the MEM-P 12 with high throughput. .

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the hardware and software configurations of the multi-function peripheral 1, and specifically, an integrated application 110 including a stream unit 113a which is a characteristic part of the present embodiment to be described later, and software 100 shows a hierarchical relationship between 100 and hardware 200. As shown in the figure, the hardware 200 includes a hardware resource 201. The hardware resource 201 includes a scanner 201a, a plotter 201b, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 201c, a network 201d, and other resources 201e. . The other resource 201e is a hardware resource 201 other than 201a to 201d, and indicates an input / output device such as an operation panel, for example.

  The software 100 installed in the hardware 200 is hierarchized, and a service layer 102 is constructed above the operating system 103, and an application layer 103 is constructed above the service layer 102. The service layer 102 corresponds to a driver that controls each hardware resource (201a to 201e). The scanner control unit 102a, plotter control unit 102b, storage control unit 102c, distribution / mail transmission / reception control unit 102d, FAX transmission / reception It has a control unit 102e, a network communication control unit 102f, and another control unit 102g.

  Here, how the software 100 shown in FIG. 3 has taken such a hierarchical structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the transition of the software configuration installed in the multifunction machine 1. As shown in the pre-service layer separation application 501 in FIG. 11, the software installed in the multifunctional multifunction peripheral 1 is created as an independent application for each function such as a copy application, a FAX application, and a scanner application. It was operating on the operating system 103 shown.

  However, since these applications include a driver (service layer 102) that controls hardware resources, duplicate processing exists in each application. As a result, the scale of each application has become large.

  Therefore, as shown in an application 502 after service layer separation in FIG. 11, a portion corresponding to the service layer 102 of the application 501 before service layer separation is bundled into a service layer 102, and each application is an upper layer of the service layer 102. The application layer 101 is constructed. By adopting such a hierarchical structure, each application has been streamlined and development effort has been reduced.

  However, as the networking and multi-functionalization of the multifunction machine 1 further advance, it has become a problem that a common processing part exists in each application. Specifically, each application of the application layer 101, for example, a copy application or a scanner application, performs processing for communicating with a driver such as the scanner control unit 102a or the accumulation control unit 102c, and the flow of data handled by various functions. Similar processing such as stream control to be controlled was included inside. As described above, when each application has the same processing, the development scale of each application is increased, and the improvement scale of each application with respect to the specification change of the service layer is increased.

  In order to solve this problem, as shown in the common routine separation application 503 in FIG. 11, it has been considered that such a similar process (common processing part) is bundled as a common routine. However, since such a common routine is intended to share slightly different processing in each application, the processing inside the common routine becomes complicated. For example, when adding a new application such as a printer application, it is necessary to modify the common routine in order to adapt to the new application.

  However, since the internal processing of the common routine is complicated, it became difficult for repair personnel to grasp the processing, and there were concerns about the increase in the scale of repair and the impact on other applications due to repair mistakes.

  Therefore, as shown in the object-oriented application 504 in FIG. 11, the plurality of applications are integrated into the integrated application 110 by an object-oriented design method (object modeling). Specifically, a common processing part of each application is extracted as an object model, and the integrated application 110 is configured from the collection of object models. The functions such as the conventional copy function and scanner function are realized by the cooperative relationship of the object model.

  By adopting such a configuration, for example, addition of a new function such as a printer function can be dealt with by subclassing a class belonging to the object model. For this reason, a repair part becomes clear and the influence on other functions by repair can be made small. In addition, the object modeling program is easier to grasp the process than the conventional procedural program, so it is easier for the repair staff to grasp the process, reducing the scale of the repair, and other applications due to mistakes in the repair. The influence on can be reduced.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a conventional application at the stage of the service layer separated application 502 shown in FIG. 11 and the relationship between the application and each driver of the service layer 102. As shown in the figure, the application layer 101 includes a copy application 120, a scanner application 130, a fax application 140, and a printer application 150.

  For example, the copy application 120 transmits / receives data to / from the scanner control unit 102a, the plotter control unit 102b, the accumulation control unit 102c, and the other control unit 102g in order to realize the copy function. In addition, the fax application 140 performs data transmission / reception with the plotter control unit 102b, the accumulation control unit 102c, the FAX transmission / reception control unit 102e, the network communication control unit 102f, and the other control unit 102g in order to realize the fax function. As described above, communication between each application in the application layer 101 and each driver in the service layer 102 is complicated.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 3, a plurality of applications existing in the application layer 101 are integrated into the integrated application 110 by the object modeling described above. The communication processing with each driver, which has been performed by each application overlappingly, is configured to be performed by a predetermined object model that configures the integrated application 110, so that the application of the application layer 101 and the service layer 102 of Communication between the drivers is simpler than that in FIG.

  Next, the internal configuration of the integrated application 110 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the integrated application 110. As shown in the figure, the integrated application 110 has an operation subsystem 111, a management subsystem 112, and an execution subsystem 113.

  The operation system subsystem 111 is a software group in charge of man-machine interface. Specifically, the operation subsystem 111 performs a process for accepting a user request, a process for instructing execution of the request, and a process for providing the user with information about the execution status and execution result of the request. .

  The management subsystem 112 is a software group that manages the resources of the image forming apparatus 1. Specifically, the management subsystem 112 performs a service for managing the hardware resource 201 and the data state held by the hardware resource 201.

  The execution subsystem 113 is a software group in charge of executing a request from a user. Specifically, the execution subsystem 113 performs processing from reading a document to outputting a product when a copy request is made.

  The operation system subsystem 111, the management system subsystem 112, and the execution system subsystem 113 mutually request processing as necessary and send the results. In this way, the subsystems cooperate to provide services required for the multifunction device 1 as the integrated application 110 as a whole.

  The execution subsystem 113 includes a stream unit 113a and an execution control unit 113b, which are features of the present embodiment. The stream unit 113a receives a request for data flow control from the execution control unit 113b, and executes a process (stream control process) for controlling the data flow between data input and output.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram in which each subsystem shown in FIG. 4 is replaced with a UML (Unified Modeling Language) class diagram (UML class diagram). Here, UML is a system modeling language for which specifications are formulated by OMG (Object Management Group), and defines a notation for describing the results of modeling. This UML is widely used in the design of object-oriented software.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the integrated application 110 has a plurality of packages, and the integrated application 110 itself is one package. Here, the package is a group of components (symbols) of the UML model, and is expressed by a symbol in the form of a folder with a tab on the upper left. A straight line connecting the packages indicates that there is a relationship such as a processing request between the packages.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the integrated application 110 is a package having three packages of an operation subsystem 111, a management subsystem 112, and an execution subsystem 113 inside. Further, the execution subsystem 113 is a package having therein a stream unit 113a and an execution control unit 113b, which are characteristic parts of the present embodiment. A straight line connecting the operation subsystem 111, the management subsystem 112, and the execution subsystem 113 indicates that there is a relationship such as a processing request (for example, message transmission / reception) between the packages. A symbol written at the right end of the tabs of the operation subsystem 111, the management subsystem 112, and the execution subsystem 113 is a UML symbol indicating that the package is a subsystem.

  Next, the stream unit 113a which is a characteristic part of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation panel 400 of the multifunction machine 1. As shown in the figure, the operation panel 400 includes an initial setting key 401, a copy key 402, a copy server key 403, a printer key 404, a transmission key 405, a ten key 406, a clear / stop key 407, a start key 408, a preheating key. 409, a reset key 410, and a liquid crystal touch panel 420.

  For example, if the user sets a paper document in the multifunction machine 1 and presses the copy key 402 to select copy processing and presses the start key 408, the data flow from the scanner 201a device to the plotter 201b device Will occur. In this case, the path through which data flows is not necessarily unique. For example, data scanned by the scanner 201a may be stored in the HDD 18 before being output from the plotter 201b.

  In addition, since the multi-function device 1 has a plurality of functions, the route through which data flows changes in accordance with a user instruction. For example, the document may be scanned and the image data may be faxed, or the data stored in the HDD 18 may be printed or faxed.

  In this embodiment, data input means (input from a paper manuscript, input from a FAX line, etc., hereinafter referred to as “departure place”) related to processing requested by the user is output from output means (to paper). The route to “Final Destination”, such as output and output to a FAX line, is hereinafter referred to as “route”. In addition, between each device through which data passes in each route is referred to as a “section”. For example, in the case of a railway, when the first station (departure point) is Tokyo Station and the last station (final destination) is Osaka Station, the route between Tokyo and Osaka corresponds to a route. A section between each station between Tokyo and Osaka corresponds to a “section”.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a route and a section. As shown in FIG. 7, the route is composed of one or more sections. In the process of storing the data scanned by the scanner 201a in the HDD 18 and outputting the data from the plotter 201b, each of the scanner 201a to the HDD 18 and the HDD 18 to the plotter 201b corresponds to a section. A gathering corresponds to a route.

  FIG. 8 is a UML class diagram showing the class structure of the stream unit 113a. First, the class description method in the class and UML class diagram will be described. A class is a concept that corresponds to a blueprint for the objects that make up an object-oriented system. It defines the attributes and processing that an object has and defines relationships with other classes, such as inheritance and aggregation relationships. It is.

  The class in the UML class diagram is described as a rectangle having three sections. From the top, each section is called a name section indicating a class name, an attribute section indicating data (attribute) included in the class, and an operation section indicating processing (operation) included in the class. For example, a rectangular name section indicating the section class 310 indicates that the class name of the class is “section”, and an attribute section indicates that the attribute of the class is “section state”. The section indicates that the operation of the class is “use ()”.

  Thus, each class has an attribute section for possessing data (attribute) and an operation section for possessing processing (operation) for writing and reading such an attribute. Since these classes are included as a part of the program (integrated application 110), when this program stored in the ROM 12a in advance is executed, each class is materialized in a predetermined area of the RAM 12b and included in the attribute section. Each data (attribute) is expanded on the RAM 12b. Therefore, the object in which the class is materialized can write and read each data (attribute) on the RAM 12b.

  In addition, if a "-" symbol is attached to the left side of a class element such as attribute or operation, this indicates that the element is private to external classes, and if a "+" symbol is attached, this element Indicates that it is open to external classes. Also, for operations, it is customary to add a “()” symbol, such as “Enter ()”, and to describe an argument to be passed to the operation, such as “(Argument 1, Argument 2)” There is also.

  Next, an overview of the class of the stream unit 113a, which is a characteristic part of the present embodiment, will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the stream unit 113a includes a section class 310, a route class 320, a route collection class 330, a route diagram class 340, a reception class 350, and the like.

  The section class 310 is a class that represents one section, and manages the section state between devices. Here, the section state is information indicating whether or not a section can be used. That is, if any of the devices related to the start point and end point of the section can be used, the section can be used, and if either the start point or end point device cannot be used, the section cannot be used. It becomes possible.

  The section class 310 has a section state 310a or the like as an attribute, and uses () 310b or the like as an operation. When an instance of the section class 310 is generated, the section state 310a is expanded on the RAM 12b, so that this data (attribute) can be written and read.

  The section state 310a holds information indicating whether or not the section is usable (that is, the section state). The use () 310b makes the value of the section state 310a unusable in order to secure resources such as devices related to the section and avoid using the section overlapping with other paths.

  The route class 320 is a class that expresses one route, and performs construction of a section constituting the route, processing determination when a failure occurs in the section (for example, selection of another section, etc.). The route class 320 has a purpose 320a, a route state 320b, and the like as attributes, and a creation () 320c and an abnormality occurrence notification () 320d as operations.

  The purpose 320a holds information such as what kind of purpose the route has (such as accumulation of data, no need to do so).

  The route state 320b holds information that summarizes the state of the route, that is, the state of all the sections constituting the route. Therefore, whether or not the route can be used can be determined by referring to the route state 320b.

  The creation () 320c constructs a section constituting the route.

  The abnormality occurrence notification () 320d is referred to as an instance of the section class 310 (hereinafter referred to as “section object 310A”) related to the section when an abnormality occurs in any section constituting the route, and the same applies to other classes. Each instance is called by a name based on the naming convention of.) To receive anomaly notifications.

  The route collection class 330 is a class for managing a bundle of route objects 320A having a common starting point and final destination, and relates to a route for appropriately satisfying a user's request from among the route objects 320A to be managed. The route object 320A is selected. Even if the starting point and the final destination are the same, there may be cases in which different sections are followed, so that there may be a plurality of routes having the same starting point and final destination. The route collection class 330 has a departure place 330a, a final destination 330b, and the like as attributes, and a study () 330c, an abnormality occurrence notification () 330d, and the like as operations.

  The departure place 330a holds the type of input means (data input from a paper document, input from a FAX line (FAX reception), etc., hereinafter referred to as “input type”) in which data is first input in the route.

  The final destination 330b indicates the type of output means (data output (print) to paper, output to FAX line (FAX transmission), etc., hereinafter referred to as “output type”) in which data is finally output on the route. Hold.

  The examination () 330c selects an appropriate or optimal route based on the input type and output type given as arguments, and generates an appropriate or optimal section for the route object 320A related to the selected route. Request.

  The abnormality occurrence notification () 330d is for the route collection object 330A to receive an abnormality notification from the route object 320A belonging to the route collection object 330A.

  The route diagram class 340 is a class for managing all route collection objects 330A in a bundle, and only one instance (route diagram object 340A) exists in the stream unit 113a. The route map class 340 has the number of departure points 340a and the number of destinations 340b as attributes, and has a review () 340c and a notification () 340d as operations.

  The departure place number 340a holds the total number of input types (that is, information indicating how many input units the multifunction device 1 has).

  The number of destinations 340b holds the total number of output types (that is, information indicating how many output units the multifunction device 1 has).

  The examination () 340c receives the input type and the output type as arguments, and searches for the route collection object 330A corresponding to the input type and the output type.

  The notification () 340d is for receiving an abnormality notification or the like from the route collection object 330A.

  The reception class 350 is a class as a window for receiving a request for the stream unit 113a from the execution control unit 113b, and only one instance (reception object 350A) exists in the stream unit 113a. The reception class 350 includes () 350 a and notification 350 b () that are sent as operations.

  The flow () 350a receives a search request for a route including the input type and the output type from the execution control unit 113b, and transmits the request to the route diagram object 340A.

  The notification () 340 e receives an abnormality notification from the route diagram object 340 A, and notifies the execution control unit 113 b of the abnormality notification.

  Next, the relationship between the classes shown in FIG. 8 will be described. As shown in the figure, in the UML class diagram, when there is some relationship between classes, rectangles representing those classes are connected by a straight line. The characters near both ends of this line represent the class role, and the numbers represent the multiplicity of the class. Here, the role is the role of the class with respect to the other class connected by a straight line, and the multiplicity is the number of objects generated in association with the object of the other class connected by a straight line. That is.

  For example, when the notation of one multiplicity is “1” and the notation of the other multiplicity is “1..n” in a certain relationship, the instances of the classes at both ends related to the relationship are one-to-many (1 To n).

  First, the relationship between the reception class 350 and the route map class 340 will be described. The reception class 350 has a role of receiving a request from the execution control unit 113b. On the other hand, the route diagram class 340 has a role of managing a set (route diagram) of a set of routes (route collection). Accordingly, in this connection, the role name of the reception class 350 is “reception”, and the role name of the route diagram class 340 is “route diagram”.

  In addition, since there is one instance of each of the reception class 350 and the route diagram class 340 in the stream unit 113a, they have a one-to-one relationship.

  Next, the relationship between the route map class 340 and the route collection class 330 will be described. The route diagram class 340 has a role of managing the route collection object 330A. On the other hand, the route collection class 330 has a role of managing the route collection. Therefore, in this connection, the role name of the route diagram class 340 is “management source”, and the role name of the route collection class 330 is “route collection”.

  Further, since one or more route collection objects 330A are managed by one route diagram object 340A, the two have a one-to-many relationship.

  By the way, the white diamond written on the route diagram class 340 side represents an aggregation relationship. An aggregate relationship is a relationship in which one class is included as part of another class. Specifically, the route collection object 330A means a part of the route diagram object 340A. Therefore, in order for the route collection object 330A to exist, it is a condition that at least the route diagram object 340A exists.

  Next, the relationship between the route collection class 330 and the route class 320 will be described. The route collection class 330 has a role of managing the route object 320A. On the other hand, the route class 320 has a role of managing route candidates selected as a data stream. Therefore, in this connection, the role name of the route collection class 330 is “management source”, and the role name of the route class 320 is “route candidate”.

  In addition, since one or more route objects 320A are managed by one route collection object 330A, they have a one-to-many relationship, and one route collection object 330A aggregates one or more route objects 320A.

  Next, the relationship between the route class 320 and the section class 310 will be described. The route class 320 has a role as a route constituted by sections. On the other hand, the section class 310 has a role as a section constituting a route. Therefore, in this connection, the role name of the route class 320 is “route”, and the role name of the section class 310 is “section”.

  In addition, since one or more section objects 310A are managed by one path object 320A, they have a one-to-many relationship, and one path object 320A aggregates one or more section objects 310A.

  In this way, the instances such as the section class 310, the route class 320, the route collection class 330, the route diagram class 340, the reception class 350, and the like are related to each other and cooperate to realize the functions necessary for the stream unit 113a. ing.

  Next, an example of the execution procedure of each class operation shown in FIG. 8 will be described. FIG. 9 is a UML sequence diagram for explaining an operation execution procedure when the stream unit 113a receives a search request for a route through which data flows.

  Here, the UML sequence diagram will be described. Each rectangle arranged in the upper part of FIG. 9 indicates a class object. A line extending downward from each object is a line (lifeline) indicating that each object is alive, and time is considered to flow from the top to the bottom. An elongated rectangle present on this line indicates a period during which the object is actually active (active period).

  Horizontal arrows connecting the lifelines indicate execution of operations included in the object. Specifically, this arrow indicates that the original object of the arrow calls an operation included in the object at the end of the arrow. Further, when the arrow points to its own object, it means that the object calls the operation included in itself.

  When the user operates the operation panel 400 to instruct execution of a copy function or the like, the operation system subsystem 111 sends a message including operation setting information to the execution control unit 113b. The operation setting information refers to various setting information set on the operation panel 400 by the user. The execution control unit 113b performs a necessary process, and then calls a flow () 350a of the reception object 350A, thereby causing the stream unit 113a to flow the data to be processed in the function related to the execution instruction. The search and securement are requested (S101). Note that an input type and an output type are specified as arguments of the flow () 350a.

  The reception object 350A, which is called the flow () 350a, calls the examination () 340c of the route diagram object 340A (S102). As the argument of the examination () 340c, the input type and the output type designated as the argument of the flow () 350a are designated as they are.

  The route diagram object 340A narrows down the route collection object 330A that requests the examination of the output means based on the input type and the output type. That is, the route collection object 330A managed by itself is searched for the value of the departure place 330a and the final destination 330b that matches the input type and output type, and the searched route collection object 330A is examined ( ) 330c is called (S103) to request selection of a path for realizing the function instructed to be executed. Note that an input type and an output type are specified as arguments of the review () 330c.

  The route collection object 330A determines a route that can satisfy the execution instruction by the user appropriately or optimally based on the given information such as the input type and the output type, and creates the route object 320A related to the route ( ) 320c is called to secure a route (S104). In determining an appropriate or optimal route, the route collection object 330A also considers the purpose 320a and the route state 320b of each route object 320A managed by itself.

  The path object 320A generates a section object 310A related to each section constituting the path (S105), and calls the use () 310b of each generated section object 310A. Each section object 310A for which the use () 310b is called secures resources such as devices related to the section, and avoids the section being used for another route in order to avoid the use of the section state 310a. Is unusable. With the above processing, a ground for fulfilling the execution instruction by the user is made, and it is possible to flow data that is the target of the execution instruction.

  In step S106, when any of the section objects 310A cannot be used, the fact is notified to the route collection object 330A via the route object 320A. The route collection object 330A selects the route object 320A again in response to the notification, and calls the creation () 320c of the selected route object 320A.

  Next, a process when a failure occurs in any section during the process of the stream unit 113a will be described. FIG. 10 is a UML sequence diagram for explaining an operation execution procedure when a failure occurs in a section.

  When a failure occurs in a device or the like in a section during the processing by the stream unit 113a, the section object 310A related to the section calls the abnormality occurrence notification () 320d of the route object 320A to which the section belongs, thereby The occurrence is notified (S201). The path object 320A examines countermeasures according to the failure that has occurred (wait for a while, shift to alternative means, etc.).

  When standby or transition to alternative means is impossible, the path object 320A notifies the occurrence of a failure by calling the abnormality occurrence notification () 330d of the path collection object 330A to which the path object 320A belongs (S202). Subsequently, the route collection object 330A calls the notification () 340d of the route diagram object 340A (S203), the route diagram object 340d calls the notification () 350b of the reception object 350A (S204), and the reception object 350A executes The occurrence of a failure is notified to the control unit 113b (S205). The occurrence of the failure is notified from the execution control unit 113b to the operation subsystem 111, and the user is notified by displaying a message or the like on the operation panel 400. At this time, the user may be requested to select an alternative means, and the process of step S101 may be performed based on the selection according to the request.

  On the other hand, when the transition to the alternative means is possible, the route object 320A calls the examination () 330c of the route collection object 330A to which the route object 320A belongs. In response to this, the route collection object 330A, for example, selects a route again according to a predetermined priority order (priority order such that the lower the order, the lower the efficiency in terms of productivity). Subsequent processing is as described in and after step S104 in FIG.

  The transition to alternative means is, for example, switching to “FAX memory transmission” or executing “copy accumulation and printing” because it is requested to execute “FAX direct transmission” but does not connect to the other party. Although requested, there is no free space in the HDD 18, so that only the printing process is performed without accumulation.

  As described above, in the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment, the stream unit 113a is realized based on general concepts such as routes and sections. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to a specific function or a specific device, and stream control corresponding to various functions or various devices can be easily and efficiently realized.

  The stream control program executed by the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment is a file in an installable format or an executable format, and is a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a flexible disc (FD), a CD- You may comprise so that it may record and provide on computer-readable recording media, such as R (CD Recordable) and DVD (Digital Versatile Disk). In this case, the CPU 11 reads out the stream control program from the storage medium and loads it onto the MEM-P 12, thereby causing the image forming apparatus to realize the above-described steps, units, or units.

  The stream control program may be provided by being stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and downloaded via the network. Further, such a stream control program may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the specific embodiment which concerns, In the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim, various deformation | transformation * It can be changed.

1 is a network diagram showing a network environment surrounding a multifunction peripheral. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining hardware of a multifunction peripheral. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a hierarchical structure of hardware and software in a multifunction peripheral. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the structure of an integrated application. It is a UML class diagram showing the configuration of an integrated application. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation panel of the multifunction machine. It is a figure for demonstrating a path | route and an area. It is a UML class diagram which shows the class structure of a stream part. It is a UML sequence diagram for demonstrating the execution procedure of operation when the stream part receives the search request | requirement of the path | route which flows data. It is a UML sequence diagram for demonstrating the execution procedure of operation when a failure generate | occur | produces in the area. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a transition of a software configuration installed in a multifunction peripheral. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the hierarchical structure of the hardware and software in the conventional multifunction machine.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming device (multifunction machine)
10 Controller 11 CPU
12 MEM-P
12a ROM
12b RAM
13 NB
14 SB
15 AGP
16 ASIC
17 MEM-C
18 HDD
20 Keyboard (Operation panel)
30 FCU
40 USB
50 IEEE1394
60 Engine
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Software 101 Application layer 102 Service layer 102a Scanner control part 102b Plotter control part 102c Accumulation control part 102d Delivery / mail transmission / reception control part 102e FAX transmission / reception control part 102f Network communication control part 102g Other control part 103 Operating system 110 Integrated application 111 Operation System subsystem 112 management system subsystem 113 execution system subsystem 113a stream unit 113b execution control unit 120 copy application 130 scanner application 140 fax application 150 printer application 200 hardware 201 hardware resource 201a scanner 201b plotter 201c HDD
201d network 201e other resources 310 section class 310A section object 310a section state 310b use ()
320 route class 320A route object 320a purpose 320b route state 320c creation ()
320d Abnormality notification ()
330 route collection class 330A route collection object 330a departure place 330b final destination 330c examination ()
330d Abnormality notification ()
340 Route map class 340A Route map object 340a Number of departure places 340b Number of destinations 340c Study ()
340d Notification ()
350 reception class 350a stream ()
350b Notification ()
400 Operation Panel 401 Initial Setting Key 402 Copy Key 403 Copy Server Key 404 Printer Key 405 Send Key 406 Ten Key 407 Clear / Stop Key 408 Start Key 409 Preheat Key 410 Reset Key 420 Liquid Crystal Touch Panel 501 Application Before Service Layer Separation 502 After Service Layer Separation Application 503 Common routine separation application 504 Object-oriented application

Claims (12)

An image forming apparatus that performs requested processing on data input from an input unit selected from a plurality of input units and outputs the data to an output unit selected from the plurality of output units,
Section management means for managing the state of each section between the devices through which the data passes between the input means and the output means;
Path management means for managing the status of the path from the input means to the output means based on the section management means for each section from the input means to the output means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a route collection management unit that manages the set of routes shared by the input unit and the output unit based on the route management unit related to the route. 2. The image formation according to claim 1, wherein the route collection management unit selects a route for realizing the requested processing, and requests the route management unit related to the route to secure the route. apparatus. The route management means requests each of the section management means related to each section included in the route to secure a device related to the section in response to a request for securing the path. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the section management unit secures the device according to a state of the device in response to a request for securing the device related to the section. When the section management means cannot use the device related to the section, the section management means notifies the route collection management means to that effect via the path management means,
5. The route collection management unit selects a route for realizing an alternative process of the requested processing, and requests the route management unit related to the route to secure the route. Image forming apparatus. Managing all the route collection management means, and based on the selection of the input means and the selection of the output means, the route collection management means related to the selected input means and the selected output means, 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising route diagram management means for requesting selection of a route for realizing the requested processing. An image forming apparatus that performs a requested process on data input from an input unit selected from a plurality of input units and outputs the data to an output unit selected from the plurality of output units.
Section management means for managing the state of each section between the devices through which the data passes between the input means and the output means;
Path management means for managing the status of the path from the input means to the output means based on the section management means for each section from the input means to the output means;
A stream control program for causing a set of routes shared by the input unit and the output unit to function as a route collection management unit that manages the set of routes based on the route management unit related to the route. 8. The stream control according to claim 7, wherein the route collection management unit selects a route for realizing the requested processing and requests the route management unit related to the route to secure the route. program. The route management means requests each of the section management means related to each section included in the route to secure a device related to the section in response to a request for securing the path. 8. The stream control program according to 8. The stream control program according to claim 9, wherein the section management unit reserves the device according to a state of the device in response to a request for securing the device related to the section. When the section management means cannot use the device related to the section, the section management means notifies the route collection management means to that effect via the path management means,
11. The route collection management unit selects a route for realizing an alternative process of the requested process, and requests the route management unit related to the route to secure the route. Stream control program. Managing all the route collection management means, and based on the selection of the input means and the selection of the output means, the route collection management means related to the selected input means and the selected output means, 12. The stream control program according to claim 8, further comprising route diagram management means for requesting selection of a route for realizing the requested processing.

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