JP2008105321A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent access from being concentrated on a nonvolatile storage section and a volatile storage section which stores setting items even if a change in the setting items regarding jobs is specified. <P>SOLUTION: A change specification section 1 specifies a change in the setting items of jobs to be executed by the device. The nonvolatile storage section 5 fixedly stores the setting items of the jobs. The volatile storage section 7 holds the setting items during the execution of the jobs. A control section 3 controls the execution of the jobs on the basis of the setting items, sorts out a job relating to the setting items, the change of which is specified by the change specification section 1, and holds changed items related to the applicable job and controls the change of the setting items of the specific job to be executed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus suitable for use in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a scanner machine, or a multi function peripheral (MFP) thereof.

  For a print job, a read job, and the like executed in the image forming apparatus, there are many operation setting items such as the type and size of the printing paper and the reading resolution for the image information to be printed and the read image information. It is set and stored in itself.

  In addition, these operation setting items are fixedly stored in a nonvolatile storage unit such as an HDD so that they will not be lost even if the device is restarted. Settings can be changed by online operation from an external computer.

  This change process is preferably stored directly in the nonvolatile storage unit at the time when the change is requested, but it often takes time if the nonvolatile storage unit is directly accessed and stored, and the job execution speed and various operations May be affected.

  For this reason, a change item requested to be changed is held in a volatile storage unit including a cache memory such as a RAM, and is stored in the nonvolatile storage unit from the volatile storage unit at a timing of, for example, 10 seconds.

  However, since the volatile storage unit such as the cache memory loses the stored content at the same time when the device system is restarted, the process of storing the information on the volatile storage unit in the nonvolatile storage unit such as the HDD is performed in a short cycle. There is a possibility that the system will always be overloaded and affect the job execution.

  Therefore, for example, a configuration as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-241248 (Patent Document 1) has been proposed.

In the configuration of Patent Document 1, in an information processing apparatus that intermittently performs synchronization processing for synchronizing the contents of a cache and main memory, the cache has a plurality of cache areas for storing data, and each cache area Has a cache memory for storing data in units of items based on item status data indicating the status of each item, and a controller for controlling the cache memory for each item, and stores one cache area as a main memory Used to write changes to the cache, and uses other cache areas to change the cache contents that are executed during the process of writing the changes to the main memory, thereby writing the contents held in the cache to the main memory. And synchronization processing and cache update processing are performed in parallel to improve the performance of the information processing apparatus.
JP-A-8-241248

  However, the above-described Patent Document 1 attempts to reduce the burden on the apparatus by performing a change process to the cache and writing the change contents held in the cache to the main memory in parallel. The processing itself for storing the above information in the main memory is not improved to reduce the burden on the cache and the main memory, but an improvement has been desired.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. Even when there is an instruction to change a setting item related to the processing operation of the apparatus, the change process is surely executed, and the nonvolatile storage unit is unnecessarily performed. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which accesses are not concentrated on the volatile storage unit and the load is not easily applied to the apparatus.

  In order to solve such a problem, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a non-volatile storage unit that fixedly stores setting items related to the processing operation of the device, and a volatile that holds the setting items when the processing operation is executed. A change storage unit, a change instruction unit for instructing a change of the setting item, and execution control of the processing operation based on the setting item in the volatile storage unit. A control unit that controls whether to change the setting item in the volatile storage unit with respect to the processing operation before execution. is doing.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may be configured such that the control unit changes and controls an unchanged change item with respect to the nonvolatile storage unit at the end of the processing operation.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention may be configured such that the processing operation is an external job.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention can be configured such that printing, image reading, and external transmission are different as the job types.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention can be configured such that the control unit controls display of the changed setting item on the display unit.

  In such an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the setting items related to the processing operation of the apparatus are fixedly stored in the nonvolatile storage unit, the setting items are held in the volatile storage unit when the processing operation is executed, and the setting is performed. When the change instruction is instructed from the change instructing unit, the control unit executes and controls the processing operation based on the setting item in the volatile storage unit. It is determined whether it corresponds to a setting item related to the processing operation, and is stored in association with the processing operation, and the setting item in the volatile storage unit is changed and controlled for the processing operation before execution. Even if there is an instruction to change an item, the change process is executed reliably, access is not unnecessarily concentrated on the nonvolatile storage unit, and it is difficult to place a load on the apparatus.

  In the configuration in which the control unit changes and controls the non-changed change items with respect to the non-volatile storage unit at the end of the processing operation, the change items for the setting items other than the processing operation to be executed are non-volatilely stored. Access is not concentrated on the part and it is difficult to load the device.

  In the configuration in which the processing operation is a job from the outside, even if the setting item is changed, it is particularly difficult to concentrate access to the nonvolatile storage unit and the volatile storage unit unnecessarily.

  In the configuration in which printing, image reading, and external transmission are used as the job type, there are many setting items. Therefore, concentration of access to the nonvolatile storage unit and the volatile storage unit is avoided and it is difficult to place a load on the apparatus.

  In the configuration in which the control unit displays and controls the changed setting item on the display unit, the changed setting item can be confirmed from the outside.

  Embodiments of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  1, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image reading unit 9, a printing unit 11, and a transmission / reception unit 13 in addition to a change instruction unit 1, a control unit 3, a nonvolatile storage unit 5, and a volatile storage unit 7. Configured.

  The change instruction unit 1 is a touch switch type operation display panel that also serves as a liquid crystal display panel disposed in the apparatus main body (not shown). Under the control of the control unit 3, an instruction for job 1 (printing), a job In addition to 2 (scan: image reading) instruction and job 3 (FAX transmission) instruction, setting items for executing the print job, reading job and transmission job, and change of these setting items are input. Yes, connected to the control unit 3. Details of the control unit 3 will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, for example, the setting items of the print job are “Paper Type” which is a printing paper type such as plain paper or OHP paper and “PaperSize” which is the printing paper size in relation to “JOB Type 1 (Printer)”. , “DefaultPaper”, which is a paper discharge destination, and the setting items of the reading job include, for example, “Paper Type”, which is a reading paper type in relation to “JOB Type 2 (Scan)”, as shown in FIG. There are “ScanSize” as the reading size, “DefaultPaper” as the paper discharge destination, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2C, for example, the setting items of the transmission job are “Send Address” that is a transmission address in relation to “JOB Type 3 (Send)”, “ScanSize” that is a transmission size, and “UserName” that is the name of the transmission source. The common job setting items common to the print job, read job, and transmission job are, for example, “DPI”, which is a resolution related to “JOB Type 4 (All)”, as shown in FIG. These setting items are arbitrarily set in advance at the time of manufacture of the device or at the time of operation, and are stored and set in the nonvolatile storage unit 5 as will be described later.

  The non-volatile storage unit 5 is a readable / writable hard disk drive (HDD) that stores image data and setting items related to printing, reading, and transmission jobs in a fixed manner under the control of the control unit 3.

  The volatile storage unit 7 is a readable / writable semiconductor such as a cache memory that temporarily stores setting items related to printing, image reading, and transmission jobs read from the nonvolatile storage unit 5 under the control of the control unit 3. RAM. In particular, setting items relating to jobs to be executed are temporarily stored and managed.

  The image reading unit 9 acquires electronic image data by optically scanning a document image according to the reading setting item of the volatile storage unit 7 described above under the control of the control unit 3 or another reading control unit (not shown). For example, the data is output to the nonvolatile storage unit 5.

  The printing unit 11 converts the image data of the non-volatile storage unit 5 into, for example, page-unit image data in accordance with the print setting items of the volatile storage unit 7 described above under the control of the control unit 3 or another unillustrated reading control unit. The image is developed and transferred, and the image is transferred and fixed on a printing paper to be printed in color or monochrome.

  The transmission / reception unit 13 converts the image data of the non-volatile storage unit 5 for, for example, FAX transmission according to the transmission setting item of the volatile storage unit 7 under the control of the control unit 3 or another reading control unit (not shown). For example, an interface for transmitting to a network.

  Based on the print job, image reading job, and transmission job instructions from the change instruction unit 1, the control unit 3 reads the setting items of the corresponding job from the non-volatile storage unit 5 to the volatile storage unit 7, and sets these setting items. And a function as a cache memory control unit that controls execution of the print job, image reading job, or transmission job.

  When there is a change instruction for the setting items related to the print job, the image reading job, and the transmission job from the change instruction unit 1, the control unit 3 determines which type of job the change instruction corresponds to. And has a function of holding and managing change items in association with the corresponding job.

  When there is a job that is instructed to be executed, the control unit 3 changes the change item on the volatile storage unit 7 before executing the job, and then controls the execution of the job and the processing of the executed job At the end, it has a function of performing change control from the volatile storage unit 7 to the non-volatile storage unit 5 with respect to an unchanged setting item among change items related to a job not executed.

  When the change item is common to all of the print job, the read job, and the transmission job, the control unit 3 has a function of performing change control on all job setting items at the end of processing of the executed job. Yes.

  For example, when there is a setting item display instruction from the change instruction unit 1, the control unit 3 controls display of all the latest setting items (changed) in the volatile storage unit 7 in the change instruction unit 1 as shown in FIG. 3. It has a function to do.

   Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be briefly described.

  For example, when a print job is instructed from the change instruction unit 1, the control unit 3 reads the setting items of the corresponding print job from the nonvolatile storage unit 5 to the volatile storage unit 7, and refers to the setting items to perform the printing Controls job execution.

  Prior to the print job instruction, when “PaperSize”, which is the print paper size in “JOB Type 1 (Printer)” shown in FIG. 2A, is changed, the control unit 3 changes the setting items in the nonvolatile storage unit 5. At the end of the job, the volatile storage unit 7 controls to change the setting items in the nonvolatile storage unit 5.

  Accordingly, for example, the control unit 3 controls display of the changed latest setting item as shown in FIG.

  When a change related to another job is instructed, the control unit 3 performs change control on the job setting items in the nonvolatile storage unit 5 from the volatile storage unit 7 at the end of the job. The same applies to other setting items.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the nonvolatile storage unit 5 that fixedly stores setting items related to the job of the device, the volatile storage unit 7 that holds the setting items when the job is executed, and the setting thereof The change instruction unit 1 for instructing the change of the item, and execution control of the job based on the setting item, and the change item for which the change instruction from the change instruction unit 1 corresponds to the setting item for which job And a control unit 3 for changing and controlling the setting items in the volatile storage unit for the specific job before execution.

  In addition, the control unit 3 also has a function of changing and controlling change items that have not been changed from the volatile storage unit 7 to the nonvolatile storage unit 5 at the end of the processing operation.

  For this reason, when there is an instruction to change a setting item related to a job, the change process is surely executed, and access to the change item is not unnecessarily concentrated in the nonvolatile storage unit 5 and the volatile storage unit 7, and job processing is performed. It is difficult to delay, the load on the apparatus is easily reduced, and there is an advantage that the change item is reflected in the setting item in the nonvolatile storage unit 5 and fixedly stored.

  In the configuration in which the job type is a print job, an image reading job, or an external transmission job, these jobs are usually used frequently and there are many setting items. In particular, the nonvolatile storage unit 5 or the volatile storage unit is used. 7 does not concentrate access, and it is difficult to load the system.

  In addition, since the change instruction unit 1 functions as an operation display unit or a display unit, and the control unit 3 controls display of the changed setting items, the changed setting items can be confirmed from the outside.

  In the above-described embodiment, the setting items related to the print job, the reading job, and the transmission job have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to these jobs, and is a setting item related to the processing operation of the image forming apparatus and is non-volatile. This can be implemented for setting items that are fixedly set in the storage unit 5.

  In the present invention, it is possible to change the setting items online from an external computer or the like, and the change instruction unit 1 may be provided with an input / output interface function in accordance with this.

  In the present invention, the image reading unit 9, the printing unit 11, and the transmission / reception unit 13 described above are indispensable in the multifunction peripheral, but are not necessarily indispensable for the configuration of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure explaining the setting item regarding a job. It is a figure which shows the example which displays the setting item regarding a job.

Explanation of symbols

1 Change instruction section (operation display panel)
3 Control unit (cache control unit)
5 Nonvolatile storage (HDD)
7 Volatile memory (cache memory)
9 Image Reading Unit 11 Printing Unit 13 Transmission / Reception Unit

Claims (5)

A non-volatile storage unit that fixedly stores setting items related to processing operations of the apparatus;
A volatile storage unit that holds the setting item when the processing operation is executed;
A change instruction unit for instructing a change of the setting item;
Based on the setting item in the volatile storage unit, execution control of the processing operation is performed, and it is determined which of the processing operation the change item for which the change instruction is given corresponds to the setting item. A control unit that controls and changes the setting items in the volatile storage unit with respect to the processing operation before execution while holding the processing operation in association with the processing operation.
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes and controls the change items that have not been changed with respect to the nonvolatile storage unit at the end of the processing operation. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing operation is an external job. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the job type is any one of printing, image reading, and external transmission. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit, wherein the control unit controls display of the setting item after the change on the display unit.

Images