JP2008009854A - Log control device, image forming device, log control method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a log control device, capable of efficiently storing logs useful for failure analysis. <P>SOLUTION: In the log control program 30, a data receiving part 300 or the like performs predetermined processing to input image data, and generates and stores a log for the processing in a first log storage part 306. A state determination part 308 determines whether the state of the data receiving part 300 or the like is normal or not, and a log storage part 310 confirms, when abnormal state is detected, a collection period and a collection level corresponding to an error code generated in reference to a log table, acquires logs generated before the collection period to the present which have a significance corresponding to the collection level among the logs stored in the first log storage part 306, and stores them in a second log storage part 312. The first log storage part 306 is achieved by a memory, and the second log storage part 312 is achieved by a nonvolatile storage device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a log control device that controls a log for recording processing contents.

Since the log is a record of the processing contents of the computer, it is useful for analyzing a failure that has occurred. However, it is difficult to predict when a failure will occur, and if all log information is saved due to the failure, a huge storage capacity is required.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 discloses a method of minimizing the number of logs to be saved by counting only the number of occurrences when the same error has already been registered and diverting the already registered data. . In addition, it is disclosed that when the error occurrence frequency per unit time exceeds a predetermined value, the storage area is efficiently used by suppressing writing of a normal log.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-306050

  However, it may not be possible to analyze the failure even if the information at the time of error occurrence is collected.

  The present invention has been made from the above-described background, and an object thereof is to provide a log control device capable of efficiently storing a log useful for failure analysis.

  To achieve the above object, a log control device according to the present invention includes a log generation unit that generates a log including time, a first storage unit that stores a log generated by the log generation unit, and a log. Second storage means for storing and having non-volatility, and log storage means for storing, in the second storage means, logs included in a predetermined period among logs stored in the first storage means Have.

Preferably, the log generation unit generates a log further including an importance level, and the log storage unit stores the log based on the importance level included in the log generated by the log generation unit.
Preferably, the log generation unit generates a log further including a type represented by at least one of normal and error.

Preferably, the log storage means stores only a log of a normal type among logs stored in the first storage means at a predetermined opportunity.
Preferably, the log storage unit stores a log when the log generation unit generates a log having an error type.
Preferably, the log storage means stores a log based on a storage guideline that defines a log to be stored for each type of error.

Preferably, the storage guideline can be changed based on input data.
Preferably, the first storage means operates at a higher speed than the second storage means.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a log control device, wherein the log control device stores a log generation unit that generates a log including a time, and a log generated by the log generation unit. The first storage means for storing the log, the second storage means for storing non-volatility, and the logs stored in the first storage means included in a predetermined period are used as predetermined triggers. Log storage means for storing in the second storage means.

  The log control method according to the present invention is a log control device having a non-volatile storage device, generating a log including time, storing the generated log, and a predetermined period of the stored logs. Are stored in the storage device.

  Furthermore, a program according to the present invention includes a log generation step of generating a log including time in a log control device having a computer and a nonvolatile storage device, a storage step of storing the generated log, A log storage step of storing, in the storage device, a log included in a predetermined period among stored logs is executed by the computer of the log control device.

  According to the log control device of the present invention, a log useful for failure analysis can be efficiently saved.

First, an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a CPU 12, a memory 14, a non-volatile storage device 16 such as a hard disk drive, and a communication interface that transmits and receives data to and from an external computer via a network. (IF) 18, an output device 20 including a print engine and the like, and outputting image data and the like input via the communication IF 18 onto recording paper, and a user interface (UI) device 22 including a touch panel or a liquid crystal display and a keyboard Including. The data transfer speed of the memory 14 is, for example, about 1 to 5 GB / second, and the data transfer speed of the storage device 16 is, for example, about 60 to 300 MB / second. These components are connected to each other via a bus 24.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of the log control program 30 for realizing the log control method of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the log control program 30 includes a data receiving unit 300, an image processing unit 302, and an image formation. A control unit 304, a first log storage unit 306, a state determination unit 308, a log storage unit 310, a second log storage unit 312, and a pointer reception unit 314 are included. The log control program 30 is loaded into the memory 14 of the image forming apparatus 10 and is executed by the CPU 12 to constitute a log control apparatus. The log control program 30 generates a log including the time using these components, stores the generated log in, for example, the memory 14 (FIG. 1), and is included in a predetermined period among the stored logs. Is stored in the storage device 16.
Note that all or part of the functions of the log control program 30 may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC provided in the image forming apparatus 10.

  In the log control program 30, the data receiving unit 300 receives image data from a computer (not shown) connected via a network and outputs the image data to the image processing unit 302. The data receiving unit 300 generates a log including contents and time of function input / output information, data structure information, error and failure occurrence information, etc., which are called according to processing, and a first log storage unit which will be described later It stores in 306.

  The image processing unit 302 draws an image based on the image data input from the data receiving unit 300, performs image processing such as color conversion processing and gradation correction processing on the image, and performs image processing on the image formation control unit 304. Output. Similar to the data receiving unit 300, the image processing unit 302 generates a log for recording each process and stores it in the first log storage unit 306.

  The image formation control unit 304 inputs image data subjected to predetermined image processing from the image processing unit 302, and controls the output device 20 (FIG. 1) so that an image is formed on a recording sheet. The image formation control unit 304 also generates a log and stores it in the first log storage unit 306 in the same manner as the data reception unit 300.

  As described above, the data reception unit 300, the image processing unit 302, and the image formation control unit 304 constitute a log generation unit that generates a log including time. The generated log may further include the type and importance represented by at least one of normal and error in addition to the processing content and time. The contents of the log will be described later in detail.

  The first log storage unit 306 stores a log generated by log generation means such as the data reception unit 300. The first log storage unit 306 is realized by the memory 14 and operates at a higher speed than the second log storage unit 312. The first log storage unit 306 is a storage unit having a predetermined capacity, and stores data so that it is used again from the beginning when all the capacity is used up. That is, the first log storage unit 306 is used for so-called cyclic.

  The second log storage unit 312 stores at least a part of the log stored by the first log storage unit 306. The second log storage unit 306 is realized by the storage device 16 such as a hard disk drive.

  The state determination unit 308 monitors the states of the data reception unit 300, the image processing unit 302, and the image formation control unit 304, determines whether or not the state of the data reception unit 300 and the like is normal, and determines the components. When at least one of the states is not normal, the fact is output to the log storage unit 310 described later. For example, when an error occurs in the data reception unit 300 or the like, the state determination unit 308 outputs a message to that effect to the log storage unit 310.

  The log storage unit 310 stores, in the second log storage unit 312, logs included in the predetermined period among the logs stored in the first log storage unit 306. When the log storage unit 310 receives a notification that an error has occurred in the data reception unit 300 or the like from the state determination unit 308 (that is, when the data reception unit 300 or the like generates a log with an error type), For example, a log included in a predetermined period such as a log from 10 minutes ago (or 1 minute ago or 1 hour ago) to the present time is stored in the second log storage unit 312.

  The log storage unit 310 selects a log to be stored in the second log storage unit 312 based on the importance included in the log, and stores only the selected log. In addition, the log storage unit 310 may be used every predetermined time, such as every hour, every day, or when the storage capacity of the first log storage unit 306 is exhausted and started to be used from the beginning. Of the logs stored in the first log storage unit 306, only the logs of the normal type are stored in the second log storage unit 312. Furthermore, the log storage unit 310 stores a log based on a log storage guideline input by a guideline reception unit 314 described later.

  The guideline receiving unit 314 receives a log storage guideline in which a log to be stored is defined for each error type. The log storage guideline includes an error code, the importance of the log to be stored when this error code occurs, and the collection period. The log storage guideline may be input by the user via the UI device 22 or may be transmitted from an external computer or the like via the communication IF 18. The log storage guideline is also called a log table.

Next, the log generated by the data receiving unit 300 and the log stored in the second log storage unit 312 from the first log storage unit 306 by the log storage unit 310 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a log generated in the image forming apparatus 10, and FIG. 3A illustrates a log generated by a log generation unit such as the data receiving unit 300, and FIG. ) Illustrates the log stored in the second log storage unit 312 by the log storage unit 310.
As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the log includes a processing content, a processing time, a processing type (S in the drawing), and an importance (T in the drawing).

  The type is represented by either normal or error. If the type is an error, the log indicates that an abnormality has occurred, as indicated by U in the figure. For example, when a file does not exist or when a function called when an error occurs is called, a log whose type is error is generated. The type may be, for example, a warning other than these.

  The importance level represents the importance level of processing in, for example, three levels. Here, “1” has the highest importance, and “3” has the lowest importance. A process with an importance level of 1 is a function call for executing a specific function such as creating a new page or ending a job. A process with an importance level of 3 is a general-purpose function call or the like, such as opening a file.

  When an error indicated by U in FIG. 3A occurs, the state of the log generation unit such as the image processing unit 302 is determined by the state determination unit 308, and the abnormal state is recognized, which is illustrated in FIG. 3B. As described above, a part of the log stored in the first log storage unit 306 is stored in the second log storage unit 312 by the log storage unit 310. In this example, the log included in the period from the time “00:01:23” to the current time is stored in the second log storage unit 312.

On the other hand, when the normal state continues, only the log whose type is normal is stored in the second log storage unit 312 by the log storage unit 310 at a predetermined opportunity.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a log generated in the image forming apparatus 10, and FIG. 4A illustrates a log generated by a log generation unit such as the data receiving unit 300, and FIG. ) Illustrates the log stored in the second log storage unit 312 by the log storage unit 310 when the normal state continues.

  The log to be stored may be identified based on the importance. In this case, the log storage unit 310 stores only the log having the normal type and the highest importance as shown in FIG. 4B among the logs shown in FIG. Stored in the unit 312. Therefore, a log indicating processing of a general-purpose function or the like is not stored, and only a log indicating processing of a function having a specific function is stored. For this reason, the capacity required for the second log storage unit 312 can be reduced.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a log table that defines a log to be stored for each type of error.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the log table includes an error code, a collection level, and a collection period. The error code is an identifier indicating the type of error that has occurred. The collection level represents the importance of a log to be stored in the second log storage unit 312 when an error with the error code occurs. For example, when the collection level is “all”, logs with importance “1”, “2”, and “3” are stored, and when the collection level is “2 or higher”, the importance is “1”. ”And“ 2 ”are stored. The collection period represents a period in which a log to be stored when an error occurs is included. For example, when the collection period is “1 minute”, logs from one minute before to the current time are stored.

  The log table is held by the log storage unit 310. When an error occurs, the log storage unit 310 refers to the log table and determines the log period and importance to be stored in the second log storage unit 312. Therefore, since the log to be stored can be set for each image forming apparatus 10, only the necessary log can be efficiently saved. The log table may further include an item “collection type”. In this case, only a log of a corresponding type (for example, a log whose type is normal or a log whose type is error) can be stored.

  The log table may be changed based on input data. In this case, the log table information is added to the image data input to the data receiving unit 300. When the data reception unit 300 receives the image data to which the log table information is added, the data reception unit 300 outputs the log table information to the log storage unit 310. The log storage unit 310 updates the log table based on the log table information input from the data reception unit 300.

  This log table may be valid only during the processing of the image data, or may be valid for all processes after the image data is received. Thereby, the log to be stored can be changed for each input data, and an error log that is likely to be generated by the data can be stored in the second log storage unit 312 in more detail.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the overall operation (S10) of the log control program 30 for realizing the log control method according to the embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 6, in step 100 (S100), the data receiving unit 300, the image processing unit 302, and the image formation control unit 304 of the log control program 30 perform predetermined processing on the input image data, A log relating to each of these processes is generated and stored in the first log storage unit 306.

  In step 102 (S102), the state determination unit 308 determines whether or not the state of the data reception unit 300 or the like is normal. If the state is abnormal (for example, an error occurs in the data reception unit 300 or the like). If the result is abnormal), the process proceeds to S104, and if it is normal, the process proceeds to S110.

In step 104 (S104), the log storage unit 310 refers to the log table and confirms the collection period and the collection level corresponding to the generated error code.
In step 106 (S106), the log storage unit 310 is a log from the previous collection period to the present among the logs stored in the first log storage unit 306, and the importance level corresponding to the collection level. Get things.
In step 108 (S108), the log storage unit 310 stores the acquired log in the second log storage unit 312.

On the other hand, in step 110 (S110), the log storage unit 310 determines whether or not a predetermined period has elapsed (for example, whether or not the storage area of the first log storage unit 306 has been used up to the end and started to be used from the beginning). If the predetermined period has elapsed, the process proceeds to S112. Otherwise, the process returns to S100.
In step 112 (S112), the log storage unit 310 acquires a log of the normal type and the highest importance among the logs stored in the first log storage unit 306. In step S108, the acquired log is stored in the second log storage unit 312.

  As described above, the log control device according to the present invention stores a log, a log generation unit that generates a log including time, a first storage unit that stores a log generated by the log generation unit, and a log. Second storage means having non-volatility, and log storage means for storing, in the second storage means, logs included in a predetermined period among the logs stored in the first storage means. Thereby, a log useful for failure analysis can be efficiently saved.

  In addition, the log control device generates a log further including the importance, and stores the log based on the importance included in the generated log. Thereby, since the log with low importance is not stored in the second storage unit, the efficiency of saving the log is improved.

  In addition, the log control device generates a log that further includes a type represented by at least one of normal and error, and the type is normal among the logs stored in the first storage unit at a predetermined opportunity. Store only certain logs. In addition, when the log control device generates a log whose type is error, the log control device stores the log. This further improves log storage efficiency.

  Further, the log control device stores a log based on a storage guideline that defines a log to be stored for each type of error, and the storage guideline can be changed based on input data. As a result, a log to be stored can be set for each input print job, and the log storage efficiency is further improved.

  Further, in the log control device, the first storage means operates at a higher speed than the second storage means. Thereby, performance degradation due to log output during normal operation can be suppressed. Also, since only the minimum necessary log is stored in the second storage means when a failure occurs, performance degradation can be suppressed even when a failure occurs.

1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the log control program 30 which implement | achieves the log control method of this invention. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a log generated in the image forming apparatus 10, and FIG. 3A illustrates a log generated by a log generation unit such as the data receiving unit 300, and FIG. The log stored in the 2nd log memory | storage part 312 by the storage part 310 is illustrated. 4A is a diagram illustrating a log generated in the image forming apparatus 10. FIG. 4A illustrates a log generated by a log generation unit such as the data receiving unit 300, and FIG. The log stored in the second log storage unit 312 by the log storage unit 310 when the state continues is illustrated. It is a figure which illustrates the log table which prescribes | regulates the log of storage object for every kind of error. It is a flowchart which shows the whole operation | movement (S10) of the log control program 30 which implement | achieves the log control method which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Image forming apparatus 12 CPU
14 memory 16 storage device 18 communication interface 20 output device 22 UI device 30 log control program 300 data reception unit 302 image processing unit 304 image formation control unit 306 first log storage unit 308 state determination unit 310 log storage unit 312 second Log storage unit 314 Guideline reception unit

Claims (11)

Log generation means for generating a log including time; and
First storage means for storing a log generated by the log generation means;
A second storage means for storing a log and having non-volatility;
A log control apparatus comprising: log storage means for storing, in the second storage means, logs included in a predetermined period among logs stored in the first storage means. The log generation means generates a log further including an importance level,
The log control device according to claim 1, wherein the log storage unit stores the log based on the importance included in the log generated by the log generation unit. The log control device according to claim 1, wherein the log generation unit generates a log further including a type represented by at least one of normal and error. The log control device according to claim 3, wherein the log storage unit stores only a log of a normal type among logs stored in the first storage unit at a predetermined opportunity. The log control device according to claim 3, wherein the log storage unit stores a log when the log generation unit generates a log having an error type. The log control device according to claim 5, wherein the log storage unit stores the log based on a storage guideline in which a log to be stored is defined for each type of error. The log control device according to claim 6, wherein the storage guideline can be changed based on input data. The log control device according to claim 1, wherein the first storage unit operates at a higher speed than the second storage unit. An image forming apparatus having a log control device,
The log control device
Log generation means for generating a log including time; and
First storage means for storing a log generated by the log generation means;
A second storage means for storing a log and having non-volatility;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a log storage unit configured to store, in a predetermined trigger, logs included in a predetermined period among logs stored in the first storage unit. In a log control device having a non-volatile storage device,
Generate a log containing the time,
Storing the generated log;
A log control method for storing, in the storage device, a log included in a predetermined period among the stored logs. In a log control device having a computer and a non-volatile storage device,
A log generation step for generating a log including the time;
A storage step for storing the generated log;
A program for causing a computer of the log control device to execute a log storage step of storing in the storage device what is included in a predetermined period of the stored logs.

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