JP2008118587A - Electronic apparatus and image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute a diagnosis of each module properly by providing a diagnostic program from a portable memory even when the diagnosis is executed to an electronic apparatus comprising multiple function modules. <P>SOLUTION: Maintenance ports 40 to 42 for connecting the portable memory 20 are provided in an image reading unit 30, a system control unit 32 and an image output unit 34. The diagnostic program is stored in the portable memory 20 which can be carried such as a USB memory, and downloaded to an image processor 10 by inserting the memory into any one of the maintenance ports 40 to 42. Therefore, the failure diagnostic program for any function module downloaded from any maintenance port can be transferred to the function module to be diagnosed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus composed of a plurality of modules, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus for processing image data.

  In recent years, various image processing apparatuses such as copying machines and printers have been widely used in offices and the like. When any trouble occurs in such an image processing apparatus, a diagnostic program is used by the customer engineer to identify the trouble portion. Conventionally, such a diagnostic program is stored in advance in a ROM inside the image processing apparatus, and various diagnoses are executed by a customer engineer starting a diagnostic program stored in the ROM.

  However, since the diagnostic program stored in the ROM cannot be updated, such a method cannot use a diagnostic program newly created based on trouble information obtained from the market. Therefore, a method is used in which a diagnostic program is stored in a portable memory such as a USB memory or a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a personal computer), and the diagnostic program is downloaded from the outside to the image processing apparatus to be diagnosed. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2.)

  In the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a removable memory storing an application is inserted into an electronic device, the application is automatically executed by inserting the removable memory into the electronic device.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a method of downloading a diagnostic program (specific module) from a host computer to a printing apparatus. However, such a method always requires a host computer in order to identify the diagnostic program and transfer it to the printing apparatus. Therefore, when this conventional method is used, a maintenance service person brings a notebook PC or the like to the installation destination. However, if it is prohibited to bring a PC or the like depending on the security policy of the user at the installation destination, maintenance diagnosis cannot be performed. Even if you try to use a host computer in the customer's environment, the customer's environment will be temporarily suspended, or an outsider (maintenance service person) will look into it, which is undesirable in terms of work efficiency and security.

  There has also been proposed a system in which a diagnostic program is provided from the management server to the image processing apparatus via a network (see, for example, Patent Document 3). However, since the method disclosed in Patent Document 3 is based on the premise that an image processing apparatus to be diagnosed is connected to a management server or the like via a network, an image in which a customer engineer is installed in a user's office or the like. It cannot be used when performing maintenance diagnosis of a processing apparatus.

  For the reasons described above, maintenance diagnosis is performed by causing the image processing apparatus to read a diagnostic program using a diagnostic program in a portable memory such as a USB memory. However, since the conventional automatic diagnosis method disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not consider a complex system composed of a plurality of devices having different characteristics, a plurality of functions such as a print function, a facsimile function, and a copy function are not considered. The present invention cannot be applied to an image processing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral having the function. This is because when a diagnosis is performed on a device having a plurality of functions, a dedicated diagnostic program for diagnosing each function is required. However, since the USB memory only has a function of storing the diagnostic program, simply connecting the USB memory to the apparatus cannot select each diagnostic program and appropriately transfer it to each module.

  In general, a connection port for connecting a portable memory is often provided in the system control unit. For this reason, when the system control unit itself fails, the diagnostic program cannot be downloaded to the image processing apparatus and the diagnosis cannot be executed.

JP 2004-265417 A JP 2005-44302 A JP 2005-20713 A

  In the conventional diagnosis method described above, when an electronic device configured by a plurality of modules is diagnosed, the diagnosis of each module cannot be appropriately executed using the diagnostic program stored in the portable memory. was there.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a diagnostic program from a portable memory and appropriately execute diagnosis of each module when diagnosing an electronic device composed of a plurality of modules such as a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions. It is to provide an electronic device that can do this.

[Electronic device]
In order to achieve the above object, an electronic device of the present invention is an electronic device constituted by a plurality of modules,
At least two of the plurality of modules are
A connection port for connecting to portable memory;
Reading means for reading a diagnostic program stored in a portable memory connected to the connection port;
Storage means for storing connection information between a plurality of modules;
Transfer means for transferring the diagnostic program read by the reading means to another module based on the connection information stored in the storage means;
Diagnostic execution means for executing the transferred diagnostic program.

  According to the present invention, the connection port for connecting the portable memory is provided in two or more modules, and the diagnostic program read from the portable memory is transferred to the diagnostic target module by the transfer means. A diagnostic program can be downloaded even if a module fails.

  Preferably, the electronic device of the present invention further includes a creation unit that creates connection information indicating a connection relationship between a plurality of modules.

Preferably, the diagnostic program includes information indicating a module to be diagnosed as header information,
The transfer unit compares the information included in the received header information of the diagnostic program with the connection information stored in the storage unit, and is read by the diagnostic program received from another module or the reading unit. Transfer the diagnostic program to another module.

Preferably, the transfer means transfers a diagnostic result obtained by executing the diagnostic program to another module,
The module having the connection port further includes writing means for writing the diagnostic result of its own module and the diagnostic result received from another module into the portable memory.

  Preferably, the reading unit reads data stored in a specific hierarchy of the portable memory as a diagnostic program.

[Image processing device]
The image processing apparatus of the present invention is an image processing apparatus configured by a plurality of modules,
At least two of the plurality of modules are
A connection port for connecting to portable memory;
Reading means for reading a diagnostic program stored in a portable memory connected to the connection port;
Storage means for storing connection information between a plurality of modules;
Transfer means for transferring the diagnostic program read by the reading means to another module based on the connection information stored in the storage means;
Diagnostic execution means for executing the transferred diagnostic program.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a diagnostic program is provided from a portable memory to an electronic device configured by a plurality of modules such as a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions, and The effect that a diagnosis can be performed appropriately can be acquired.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes an image reading unit 30, a double-sided automatic paper feeder (hereinafter abbreviated as DADF (Duplex and Automatic Document Feeder)) 31, a system control unit ( Controller) 32, facsimile device 33, image output unit 34, and a plurality of functional modules such as a post-processing device 35 for performing sorting processing of the output paper.

  From the viewpoint of diagnostic functions, these functional modules are modules that can actively diagnose failures (main modules (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as MM)) and modules that can only diagnose failures passively (sub-modules (hereinafter referred to as MM). , SM may be abbreviated.))).

  In the present embodiment, the image reading unit 30, the system control unit 32, and the image output unit 34 correspond to the main module. Each of these main modules is provided with maintenance ports 40, 41, and 42 that can download a failure diagnosis program from the outside. The maintenance ports 40, 41 and 42 function as connection ports for connecting to the portable memory 20.

  Therefore, for example, a diagnostic program is stored in a portable memory 20 such as a USB memory, and the diagnostic program is downloaded to the image processing apparatus 10 by inserting the portable memory 20 into the maintenance ports 40, 41, 42. be able to. In the image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the failure diagnosis program for any functional module is transferred to the functional module to be diagnosed regardless of which maintenance port is downloaded.

  In the present embodiment, the DADF 31, the facsimile device 33, and the post-processing device 35 correspond to submodules. Specifically, the DADF 31 is a submodule of the image reading unit 30, the facsimile apparatus 33 is a submodule of the system control unit 32, and the post-processing device 35 is a submodule of the image output unit 34. The sub-module is positioned as an optional function of the main module, and performs a failure diagnosis according to an instruction from the main module.

  Next, the hardware configuration of each functional module in the present embodiment is shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each functional module includes a CPU 14, a memory 15, a storage device 16 such as a hard disk drive (HDD), and a communication interface (IF) 17 that performs transmission and reception with other functional modules. Have. These components are connected to each other via a control bus 18.

  The CPU 14 performs predetermined processing based on the image processing program stored in the memory 15 or the storage device 16 and controls the operation of each functional module.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration for executing diagnosis in the image reading unit 30 realized by executing the above-described image processing program.

  In order to simplify the description, in this embodiment, the configuration of the image reading unit 30 and the configuration of the DADF 31 will be described as the configuration of the main module and the configuration of the submodule, respectively. The description of the configuration of the facsimile apparatus 33 and the post-processing apparatus 35 is omitted. However, the system control unit 32 and the image output unit 34 have the same configuration as the image reading unit 30, and the facsimile machine 33 and the post-processing device 35 have the same configuration as the DADF 31.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the image reading unit 30 includes a read / write unit 51, a transfer unit 52, a connection information storage unit 53, a diagnosis execution unit 54, and a connection information creation unit 55. Yes. Further, the DADF 31 has a diagnosis execution unit 61.

  The connection information creation unit 55 generates connection information indicating a connection relationship between a plurality of functional modules and stores the connection information in the connection information storage unit 53.

  Each main module has a connection port between the sub-module and other main modules. Specifically, the connection information creation unit 55 has a port ID (hereinafter, referred to as a port ID) for specifying each connection port. A correspondence table between the ID of the main module (hereinafter abbreviated as MMID) and the ID of the submodule (hereinafter referred to as SMID) connected to the destination is automatically generated. The connection information creation unit 55 stores the created PID / MID (module ID) correspondence table in the connection information storage unit 53 as connection information.

  The connection information storage unit 53 stores connection information between a plurality of modules created by the connection information creation unit 55, that is, a PID / MID correspondence table.

  The read / write unit 51 reads a diagnostic program stored in the portable memory 20 connected to the maintenance port 40.

  The transfer unit 52 transfers the diagnostic program read by the read / write unit 51 to another module based on the connection information stored in the connection information storage unit 53.

  The diagnosis execution unit 54 executes the transferred diagnosis program to perform failure diagnosis.

  Each main module transfers the diagnostic program to an appropriate connection port based on the automatically generated PID / MID correspondence table. The diagnostic program is a collection of diagnostic programs for each functional module, and has a content that assumes a maximum configuration. Each functional module diagnostic program includes header information, and the main module that receives the diagnostic program refers to the MMID / SMID stored in the header information to determine which functional module diagnostic program is used. Can be identified.

  Specifically, the transfer unit 52 compares the information included in the header information of the received diagnostic program with the connection information stored in the connection information storage unit 53, so that the diagnostic program received from another main module or The diagnostic program read by the read / write unit 51 is transferred to another main module.

  The transfer unit 52 transfers the diagnosis result obtained by executing the diagnosis program to another main module. Therefore, the diagnosis result is sequentially transferred to all connected main modules.

  When the portable memory 20 is connected to the maintenance port 40, the read / write unit 51 writes the diagnostic result of its own module and the diagnostic result received from another module into the portable memory 20. In the module to which the operation panel 36 is connected, the transfer unit displays the transferred diagnosis result on the operation panel 36. Therefore, the main module (controller 32 in this embodiment) to which the operation panel 36 is connected displays the progress status on the operation panel 36, and the main module to which the portable memory 20 is connected writes the diagnosis result to the portable memory 20. .

  Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus 10 of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the overall operation of the main module will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the following, for more specific description, the operation of the main module will be described using the image reading unit 30 shown in FIG. 3, and the operation of the sub module will be described using the DADF 31.

  When the power is turned on with the diagnosis mode set (S101), all the connected main modules / submodules enter the diagnosis mode (S102).

  After entering the diagnosis mode, the connection information creation unit 55 automatically generates a PID / MID correspondence table and stores it in the connection information storage unit 53 (S103).

  The main module that has detected that the portable memory 20 is connected, when a plurality of diagnostic programs are stored in the portable memory 20, selects a diagnostic program to be used from the stored diagnostic programs. Select or specify (S104). Examples of the method for specifying the diagnostic program include the following methods.

  As a first method, a specific directory (hierarchy) is provided on the portable memory 20, and data stored in the directory is a download target as a diagnostic program.

  As a second method, when there are a plurality of diagnostic programs under the directory, the model information of the header information included in the diagnostic program is specified.

  As a third method, when a plurality of diagnostic programs having the same model information are stored under a specific directory after the diagnostic mode is started, candidate diagnostic programs are listed on the operation panel provided in the image processing apparatus. Displayed and selected by the maintenance service person.

  When the diagnostic program to be read is selected, the reading / writing unit 51 of the main module connected to the portable memory 20 reads the diagnostic program and transfers it to another module (S105).

  Specifically, when the transfer unit of the main module in which the portable memory 20 is mounted identifies the MIDs of other main modules / submodules in the header of the read diagnostic program, the PID / MID correspondence table is used. The diagnostic program is transferred to the corresponding port. Then, the main module to which the portable memory 20 is not mounted corresponds when the MID of another main module / submodule is identified in the header of the transferred diagnostic program based on the PID / MID correspondence table. Forward to port. If the diagnostic program is not transferred, the transfer unit does not process anything. Here, if a transfer error occurs, the process ends (S106).

  Next, the diagnostic execution unit of the main module that has finished transferring the diagnostic program for the other main module / submodule executes the diagnostic program for its own module (S107). The progress information of the diagnosis is displayed on the LED installed in the own module, and at the same time, transferred to other connected main modules. If the submodule is mounted on the own module, the transfer unit also transfers the diagnosis progress to another main module.

  The main module in which the portable memory 20 is mounted stores the diagnosis results of other main modules / submodules transferred via the connection port in the portable memory 20 sequentially (S108). The main module to which the operation panel 36 is attached sequentially displays the progress information of the diagnosis results of other main modules / submodules transferred via the connection port on the operation panel 36.

  After completion of the diagnosis, each main module / sub-module transmits a diagnosis end notification via the connection port. The same applies to interruption of diagnosis due to an error. When the main module to which the portable memory 20 or the operation panel 36 is attached confirms the diagnosis end notification from all the modules based on the PID / MID correspondence table, the writing of the diagnosis result to the portable memory 20 is finished and the operation is completed. A diagnosis end message is displayed on the panel 36.

  Next, the overall operation of the submodule will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the submodule enters the diagnosis mode, the submodule transmits its own SMID to the main module via the connection port (S201). When the diagnostic program is received from the main module (S202), the sub-module diagnostic execution unit 61 executes the diagnosis by starting the received diagnostic program (S203). The diagnosis execution unit 61 displays the diagnosis progress information on the LED installed in the own module (S204) and also transfers it to the connected main module (S205).

  When the diagnosis is completed (S206), each sub-module transmits a diagnosis completion message to the main module via the connection port and ends the process (S207).

  Next, the process of creating the PID / MID correspondence table shown in S103 in the flowchart of FIG. 4 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the connection information creation unit 55 creates the MID / PID correspondence table, first, the SMID is acquired from the DADF 21 as a submodule (S301). Then, the local MMID and the acquired SMID are transmitted to another main module via the connection port (S302). Then, the MMID of the other main module and the SMID of the other submodule are acquired from the other main module via the connection port (S303). Further, other MMID and other SMID are transferred to connection ports other than the connection port from which the MMID and SMID are acquired (S304). Finally, the connection information creation unit 55 creates a PID / MID correspondence table, which is a correspondence table between the acquired MMID / SMID and PID, and stores it in the connection information storage unit 53 (S305).

  FIG. 7 shows how this PID / MID correspondence table is created. In FIG. 7, the image reading unit 30 is connected to the DADF 31 through a connection port having a PID of “1”, and is connected to the system control unit 32 through a connection port having a PID of “2”. The system control unit 32 is connected to the facsimile apparatus 33 through a connection port having a PID of “1”, connected to the image output unit 34 through a connection port of a PID of “2”, and the PID is “3”. The image reading unit 30 is connected by a connection port. Further, the image output unit 34 is connected to the post-processing device 35 through a connection port having a PID “1”, and is connected to the system control unit 32 through a connection port having a PID “3”.

  First, in FIG. 7A, SMIDs are transmitted from the sub-module DADF 31, the facsimile machine 33, and the post-processing device 35 to the image reading unit 30, the controller 32, and the image output unit 34, which are the main modules. ing. An example of the PID / MID correspondence table created in each main module at this stage is shown in FIG. 8 (step 1).

  Next, FIG. 7B shows a state in which SMID / MMID is transferred between main modules. Specifically, the image reading unit 30 transmits the SMID of the DADF 31 and its own MMID to the controller 32. Further, the controller 32 transmits the SMID of the facsimile apparatus 33 and its own MMID to the image reading unit 30 and the image output unit 34. In addition, the image output unit 34 transmits the SMID of the post-processing device 35 and its own MMID to the controller 32. An example of the PID / MID correspondence table created in each main module at this stage is shown in FIG. 9 (step 2).

  Further, FIG. 7C shows a state in which the SMID / MMID received by the main module is transferred to another connection port. Specifically, the controller 32 transfers the MMID of the image output unit 34 and the SMID of the post-processing device 35 to the image reading unit 30, and transfers the MMID of the image reading unit 30 and the SMID of the DADF 31 to the image output unit 34. An example of the PID / MID correspondence table created in each main module at this stage is shown in FIG. 10 (step 3).

  Next, the process of selecting the diagnostic program indicated by S104 in the flowchart of FIG. 4 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the portable memory 20 is attached to the maintenance port 40 (S401), the read / write unit 51 determines whether or not a diagnostic program (PROG) is stored in a predetermined directory (DIR) (S402). . If a diagnostic program is stored in a predetermined directory, it is determined whether or not a plurality of diagnostic programs are stored (S403). If a plurality of diagnostic programs are not stored, the transfer unit 52 Then, a diagnosis program selection unnecessary notification is transmitted to the other main module via the connection port, and the process is terminated (S404).

  When it is determined in S403 that a plurality of diagnostic programs are stored in a predetermined directory, the transfer unit 52 determines whether or not the diagnostic program to be used can be selected based on the model information (MID) in the header. If it is determined that the diagnosis program is not necessary, a diagnosis program selection unnecessary notification is transmitted to the other main module via the connection port, and the process ends (S404). If it is determined that the diagnostic program cannot be selected, the read / write unit 51 reads the diagnostic program information from the portable memory 20 (S406). The diagnostic program information is information indicating the contents of the diagnostic program.

  When the diagnostic program information is read, the transfer unit 52 determines whether a UI (User Interface) panel (operation panel 36) is connected to its own module (S407) and is connected to the UI panel. If so, the diagnostic program information is displayed on the UI panel (S408). Then, it waits for the input of the selection result from the operator who saw the diagnostic program information displayed on the UI panel (S409), and the process ends when the selection result is input.

  If it is determined in S407 that the UI panel is not connected to its own module, the transfer unit 52 transmits diagnostic program information to the other main module via the connection port (S410), and the other main module. It waits to receive the diagnostic program selection information from (S411). When the diagnostic program selection information is received from another main module, the process ends.

  If the portable memory 20 is not attached (S401), the transfer unit 52 receives the diagnostic program selection unnecessary notification from another main module (S412), and ends the process. If the diagnostic program selection unnecessary notification is not received, it waits for the reception of diagnostic program information (S413). When the diagnostic program information is received from another main module, it is determined whether the UI panel is connected to its own module (S414). If the UI panel is connected, the diagnostic program information is displayed on the UI panel. (S415). Then, it waits for the input of the selection result from the operator who saw the diagnostic program information displayed on the UI panel (S416), and when the selection result is input, the transfer unit 52 transfers to the other main module via the connection port. On the other hand, the diagnostic program selection information is transmitted and the process is terminated (S417).

  When it is determined in S414 that the UI panel is not connected to its own module, the transfer unit 52 transfers the received diagnostic program information to another main module via the connection port (S418). . Then, the transfer unit 52 waits for reception of diagnostic program selection information from another main module (S419). Then, when receiving the diagnostic program selection information from the other main module, the transfer unit 52 transfers the diagnostic program selection information to the other main module via the connection port and ends the process (S420).

  FIG. 12 shows how the diagnostic program is selected in this way. In the example illustrated in FIG. 12, a case where the portable memory 20 is connected to the image output unit 34 is illustrated.

  FIG. 12A shows an operation in which diagnostic program information read from the portable memory 20 is displayed on the operation panel 36 via the image output unit 34 and the controller 32. FIG. 12B shows the process until the diagnostic program selection information input from the operation panel 36 is received by the image output unit 34 via the controller 32. Further, FIG. 12B illustrates an operation in which the reading / writing unit of the image output unit 34 that has received the diagnostic program selection information reads the diagnostic program from the portable memory 20 based on the received diagnostic program selection information. ing.

  Next, the process of transferring the diagnostic program indicated by S105 in the flowchart of FIG. 4 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, it is determined whether or not the portable memory 20 is attached (S501). When the portable memory 20 is attached, the read / write unit 51 stores a diagnostic program in the portable memory 20. It is confirmed whether or not (S502). When the diagnostic program is stored, the reading / writing unit 51 reads the stored diagnostic program (S503). Then, the transfer unit 52 compares the MID in the read diagnostic program header with the PID / MID correspondence table stored in the connection information storage unit 53 to thereby transfer the PID to which the diagnostic program is to be transferred. Is determined (S504). Then, the transfer unit 52 transfers the read diagnostic program to the connection port indicated by this PID (S505).

  When it is determined in S502 that the diagnostic program is not stored in the portable memory 20, the transfer unit 52 transmits a transfer error message to another main module (S506). If the UI panel is connected to its own module (S507), a transfer error message is displayed on the UI panel (S507).

  When the portable memory 20 is not attached (S501), when the transfer unit 52 receives the diagnostic program (S509), the transfer unit 52 stores the MID in the header of the received diagnostic program and the connection information storage unit 53. By comparing with the PID / MID correspondence table, the PID to be transferred by the diagnostic program is determined (S510). Then, the transfer unit 52 transfers the read diagnostic program to the connection port indicated by this PID (S511).

  If the diagnostic program cannot be received in S509, the transfer unit 52 checks whether or not a transfer error message is received (S512). When a transfer error message is received, if the UI panel is connected (S513), the transfer error message is displayed on the UI panel (S508). If the UI panel is not connected, the transfer error message is displayed. The process is transferred to another connection port and the process is terminated (S514).

  FIG. 14 shows an example of the configuration of the diagnostic program stored in the portable memory 20. Referring to FIG. 14, it can be seen that the MMID or SMID of each functional module is added as the header information to the diagnostic program for each functional module such as the controller 32 and the facsimile machine 33.

  FIG. 15 shows how such a diagnostic program is transferred.

  In the example shown in FIG. 15A, a case where the portable memory 20 is connected to the controller 32 is shown. In FIG. 15A, it can be seen that the diagnostic program read by the controller 32 is transmitted to the image reading unit 30, the image output unit 34, and the facsimile apparatus 33. The image reading unit 30 transfers the diagnostic program received from the controller 32 to the DADF 31, and the image output unit 34 transfers the diagnostic program received from the controller 32 to the post-processing device 35.

  In the example shown in FIG. 15B, a case where the portable memory 20 is connected to the image output unit 34 is shown. In FIG. 15B, the diagnostic program read by the image output unit 34 is transmitted to the controller 32 and the post-processing device 35. The controller 32 transfers the diagnostic program received from the image output unit 34 to the facsimile apparatus 33 and the image reading unit 30, and the image reading unit 30 transfers the diagnostic program received from the controller 32 to the DADF 31.

  In the example shown in FIG. 15C, a case where the controller 32 is out of order is shown. In such a case, the portable memory 20 is connected to the image reading unit 30 and the image output unit 34, and the diagnostic program is downloaded.

  In FIG. 15C, the diagnostic program read by the image reading unit 30 is transferred to the DADF 31. The diagnostic program read by the image output unit 34 is transferred to the post-processing device 35. However, in the case shown in FIG. 15C, the diagnostic program cannot be transferred to the facsimile machine 33 because the controller 32 is out of order.

  Next, the diagnosis execution process and the diagnosis result storage process shown in S107 and S108 in the flowchart of FIG. 4 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The diagnosis execution unit 54 that has received the diagnostic program for its own module after completion of the transfer of the diagnostic program executes the received diagnostic program (S601). Then, the diagnosis execution unit 54 displays the diagnosis progress information or the diagnosis result on the LED provided in its own module (S602). In addition, the diagnosis execution unit 54 acquires a diagnosis result from the DADF 31 that is a sub-module for its own module (S603). Then, the diagnostic result of its own module and the diagnostic result of the sub module are transmitted to the other main module via the connection port (S604).

  When the diagnosis result of the other main module / submodule is acquired from the other main module (S605), the diagnosis result of the other main module / submodule is sent to the connection port other than the connection port from which the diagnosis result is acquired. Transfer (S606).

  Further, when the UI panel is connected to its own module (S607), the stored diagnosis result is displayed on the UI panel (S608).

  Further, when the portable memory 20 is attached (S609), the reading / writing unit 51 stores the held diagnosis result in the portable memory 20 (S610).

  When the diagnosis of its own module and submodule is completed (S611), a diagnosis completion message is transmitted to the other main modules (S612). When the diagnosis completion message for all the other main modules and submodules is received, the process ends (S613).

  The state of the diagnostic result transfer process performed in this way is shown in FIGS.

  First, in FIG. 17A, the DADF 31, the facsimile machine 33, and the post-processing device 35, which are submodules, respectively transfer the submodules (the main module) to the image reading unit 30, the controller 32, and the image output unit 34. SM) diagnostic result is transmitted.

  Next, FIG. 17B shows a state where the diagnosis result of the sub module / main module is transferred between the main modules.

  Further, FIG. 18C shows a state in which the controller 32 transfers the diagnostic result transferred to another main module.

  In FIG. 18D, the controller 32 to which the operation panel 36 is connected displays the diagnosis result on the operation panel 36, and the image output unit 34 to which the portable memory 20 is attached displays the diagnosis result. A state of storing in the memory 20 is shown.

  According to the image processing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, maintenance ports 40 to 42 to which the portable memory 20 can be attached are provided in all main modules, and a diagnostic program for each functional module is transferred to an appropriate functional module. Can be done. Therefore, even when a certain main module breaks down and the diagnostic program cannot be downloaded, the diagnostic program can be downloaded from another main module.

  For example, even when the controller 32 shown in FIG. 15C fails, the portable memory 20 is attached to the image reading unit 30 and the image output unit 34, which are other main modules, and the diagnostic program is downloaded. It becomes possible to do.

  There is no need to transfer a diagnostic program for each functional module to a necessary functional module using a personal computer or the like, or to select a necessary one from a plurality of diagnostic programs.

  As a result, even when the module is configured by a plurality of functional modules, the diagnostic program can be provided from the portable memory 20 to appropriately execute the diagnosis of each module.

  In the present embodiment, description will be made using a case where all the main modules of the image reading unit 30, the system control unit 32, and the image output unit 34 are provided with configurations such as maintenance ports 40 to 42 and a transfer unit. However, if the same configuration is provided in at least two or more main modules of the plurality of main modules, the effects described above can be obtained.

[Modification]
In the above embodiment, the image processing apparatus for processing the image data has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be similarly applied to any electronic apparatus configured by a plurality of functional modules. Is something that can be done.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of each functional module in the image processing apparatus 10 of one Embodiment of this invention. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration for executing diagnosis in an image reading unit 30. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the whole operation | movement of the main module in the image processing apparatus 10 of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the whole operation | movement of the submodule in the image processing apparatus 10 of one Embodiment of this invention. 5 is a flowchart showing in detail processing for creating a PID / MID correspondence table shown in S103 in the flowchart of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of each functional module at the time of creating a PID / MID correspondence table. It is a figure which shows an example of the PID / MID correspondence table produced in each main module in the step 1 step. It is a figure which shows an example of the PID / MID correspondence table produced in each main module in the step 2 step. It is a figure which shows an example of the PID / MID correspondence table produced in each main module in the step 3 step. 5 is a flowchart showing in detail processing for selecting a diagnostic program shown in S104 in the flowchart of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of each function module at the time of selecting a diagnostic program. It is a flowchart which shows in detail the transfer process of the diagnostic program shown by S105 in the flowchart of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of a diagnostic program. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of each function module at the time of the transfer process of a diagnostic program. It is a flowchart which shows in detail the execution of the diagnostic program and the storage process of a diagnostic result which were shown by S107 and S108 in the flowchart of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of each functional module in the case of a diagnostic result storage process. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of each functional module in the case of a diagnostic result storage process.

Explanation of symbols

10 Image processing device 14 CPU
15 Memory 16 Storage device 17 Communication IF
18 Control bus 20 Portable memory 30 Image reading unit 31 Double-sided automatic paper feeder (DADF)
32 System controller (controller)
33 Facsimile Device 34 Image Output Unit 35 Post-Processing Device 36 Operation Panel 40-42 Maintenance Port 51 Read / Write Unit 52 Transfer Unit 53 Connection Information Storage Unit 54 Diagnosis Execution Unit 55 Connection Information Creation Unit 61 Diagnosis Execution Unit S101-S108 Steps S201 to S207 Step S301 to S305 Step S401 to S420 Step S501 to S514 Step S601 to S613 Step

Claims (6)

An electronic device composed of a plurality of modules,
At least two of the plurality of modules are
A connection port for connecting to portable memory;
Reading means for reading a diagnostic program stored in a portable memory connected to the connection port;
Storage means for storing connection information between a plurality of modules;
Transfer means for transferring the diagnostic program read by the reading means to another module based on the connection information stored in the storage means;
Diagnostic execution means for executing the transferred diagnostic program;
An electronic device.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a creating unit that creates connection information indicating a connection relationship between a plurality of modules. In the diagnostic program, information indicating a module to be diagnosed is included as header information,
The transfer unit compares the information included in the received header information of the diagnostic program with the connection information stored in the storage unit, and is read by the diagnostic program received from another module or the reading unit. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic program is transferred to another module. The transfer means transfers a diagnostic result obtained by executing a diagnostic program to another module,
4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the module having the connection port further includes a writing unit that writes the diagnostic result of its own module and the diagnostic result received from another module into the portable memory. 5. .   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit reads data stored in a specific hierarchy of the portable memory as a diagnostic program. An image processing apparatus composed of a plurality of modules,
At least two of the plurality of modules are
A connection port for connecting to portable memory;
Reading means for reading a diagnostic program stored in a portable memory connected to the connection port;
Storage means for storing connection information between a plurality of modules;
Transfer means for transferring the diagnostic program read by the reading means to another module based on the connection information stored in the storage means;
Diagnostic execution means for executing the transferred diagnostic program;
An image processing apparatus.

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