JP2008307837A - Image forming system and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system in which a screen display time at start can be shortened, and to provide its control method. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming system which has a plurality of device functions and displays a displaying screen corresponding to each device function to a user when the correspondent device function is selected, has a storing means storing a plurality of execution memory images of a system program and an application program developed over a work area of a CPU and displaying screen data for displaying a plurality of displaying screens corresponding to each of device functions in a state that, in a boot processing executed at start, the execution memory image stored in the storing means and the displaying screen data corresponding to the device function whose advanced execution at start is set are read to the work area so as to be executed by the CPU. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that has a plurality of device functions and displays a display screen corresponding to each device function to a user when the corresponding device function is selected, and a control method therefor.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the expansion of functions of image forming apparatuses, software has become large and complicated, and the startup time has become longer.

Therefore, Patent Document 1 provides a system that saves information necessary for system restoration and performs a restoration process using the information, thereby shortening the startup time.
JP 2007-38580 A

  However, the prior art is intended to shorten the startup time of the main system of the image forming apparatus, and does not describe the configuration of the operation unit system, the processing method until the initial screen display, and the like.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus capable of shortening a screen display time at startup and a control method thereof.

  The present invention is an image forming apparatus that has a plurality of device functions and displays a display screen corresponding to each device function to a user when the corresponding device function is selected, and is developed in a work area of a CPU. In a boot process to be executed at the time of start-up, a storage means storing a plurality of display screen data for displaying a plurality of display screens corresponding to the respective device functions and an execution memory image of the system program and application program The execution memory image stored in the storage means and the display screen data corresponding to the device function that is set to be executed at startup are read out to a work area and executed by the CPU. is there.

  A method of controlling an image forming apparatus, which has a plurality of device functions and displays a display screen corresponding to each device function to a user when the corresponding device function is selected. Storage system image and application program execution memory images, and a plurality of display screen data for displaying a plurality of display screens corresponding to the respective device functions, and stored in the boot process executed at startup The execution memory image and the display screen data corresponding to the device function set to be executed at the time of startup are read out to a work area and executed by the CPU.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, in the boot process, the execution memory image of the system program and the application program and the display data of the display screen corresponding to the device function designated to be displayed at the time of starting are expanded in the work area. As a result, it is possible to greatly shorten the time from the start-up until the operation screen is displayed, and the user-friendliness can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. This image forming apparatus has a plurality of apparatus functions such as a scanner function for reading a document image, a copy function for creating a copy of the document image, and a facsimile function (fax function) for transmitting and receiving image information. .

  The image forming system 101 includes a plurality of different units and realizes the overall function. In this embodiment, the image forming system 101 is integrated and controlled by the main system 102 that realizes system control and network communication control functions.

  The image forming system 101 includes an optical system, a traveling body, a motor that drives the traveling body (not shown) and the like (not shown) in order to realize the function, and scans a document surface and captures image data. A plotter unit 104 that implements a print function by combining a plurality of actuators such as an image forming system, a fixing system, and a paper transport system is incorporated.

  Further, a subsystem (image processing system) 105 that performs various image processing on image data input from the scanner unit 103 or the network, and a subsystem (input / output) that performs sensor signal control with the actuators of the scanner unit 103 and the plotter unit 104. Control system) 106, and a sub-system (operation unit control system) 107 having a key input function for a user to input a command and a display function (LCD panel) for providing device information to the user. Function is realized.

  The power control unit 108 supplies DC power consumed by each unit. The operation of the image forming system is controlled by the main system 102, and each unit is connected to the main system 102 by a communication control line 111. The main system 102 implements a function as an image forming system by transmitting / receiving commands for each subunit via the communication control line 11 and performing subunit control.

  FIG. 2 shows a specific example of the operation unit control system 107.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 is a central part that performs control of each device and data processing in the operation unit control system 107. This device executes a program stored in a memory (work area; formed in a RAM (random access memory) described later), receives data from an input device or a storage device, performs arithmetic processing, Output to an output device or storage device. In addition, the entire operation unit system is controlled.

  A ROM (Read Only Memory) 202 is a non-volatile memory (see FIG. 3A) that stores a boot program that is executed first when power is turned on, and includes a NOR flash memory device.

  A RAM 203 is a randomly accessible volatile memory used for executing a program of the CPU 201, storing an image, and editing. The contents are lost when the power is turned off.

  The ROM 204 is a non-volatile memory for storing system initial values and setting values, and includes a NAND flash memory device. In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the operating memory (OS) and application program (application) execution memory image data, which are expanded in the RAM 203 by the boot program and are directly executed by the boot program, are started. A plurality of display screen data (data A, data B,...) Sometimes displayed on the LCD panel, and a setting flag representing the set display screen at the time of startup are stored.

  The communication control unit 205 is an interface with the main system 102 and processes transmission / reception data.

  The LCD controller 206 performs LCD display control for outputting display image data stored in a predetermined area on the RAM 203 to the LCD panel 207 in accordance with a signal rule in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201.

  A key input device 208 and a touch panel 209 are devices for providing a user interface to the user, and the CPU 1 detects an input situation via the input / output control module 210 and notifies the main system. The main system then controls the entire system (instruction to the subunit) based on the received information.

  Although not shown, a ROM 202 and a RAM 203 of the operation unit control system 107 and a DMAC for data transfer of the ROM 204 are provided.

  Next, the operation of the operation unit control system 107 at startup will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the AC switch is on, the CPU 201 reads the boot program stored in the ROM 202 and starts the boot process according to the boot program (step S01; see FIG. 3C)).

  Thereafter, the process immediately after startup is executed using the execution memory image data and the plurality of display screen data stored in the ROM 204. Here, since the ROM 204 is a NAND flash memory and cannot be randomly accessed, the execution memory image data is sequentially transferred to a predetermined address area of the RAM 203 using the DMAC. A setting flag representing an initial display screen (described later) preset by the user is also transferred to a predetermined address area of the RAM 203 (step S02).

  When the data transfer is completed, the display screen data (data A, data B,...) Corresponding to the setting flag is read out, transferred to the RAM 203, and the transferred display screen data is used to display the LCD panel. The initial screen is displayed at (Step S03).

  Here, the initial screen is a setting screen (for example, a system menu screen or a copy function setting screen) that accepts an operation for using the system, and is a screen that notifies the system during operation such as loading. Absent.

  Thereafter, in the same manner as in the conventional operation unit system, the data on the RAM 203 is rewritten in accordance with an instruction from the main system, and processing such as display screen drawing / display switching is performed (step S04).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3C, the boot program is transferred to the lowest part of the address area (preset address area) of the RAM 204, and the OS is transferred to the highest part (preliminary part of the address area of the RAM 204). The application program is transferred to the next address area of the OS. The setting flag is transferred to the address area (address area set in advance) immediately before the boot program.

  5 to 8 show details of the above-described steps S01 to S04. See also FIG.

  In step S01 (see FIG. 5), boot program activation processing is performed. The CPU 201 reads the boot program stored in the ROM 202 (step S10), and the boot program is activated (step S11).

  In step S02 (see FIG. 6), the CPU 201 DMA-transfers the execution memory image data of the OS and the execution image data of the application program to predetermined areas of the RAM 203, respectively, based on the instruction of the boot program that has been started (step S02). S20 to S23).

  Next, the CPU 201 transfers the setting flag stored in the ROM 204 to a predetermined area of the RAM 203 (step S24). Then, the contents of the setting flag are checked to determine which display screen data to be expanded next is data A, data B,... (Step S25), and the determined display screen data. Is transferred from the ROM 204 to a predetermined area of the RAM 203 (steps S26 and S27).

  As a result, the RAM 203 is loaded with various setting values that are pre-boot processed and developed as an application, display screen data displayed on the LCD panel, and the like, and the OS / application is started.

  In step S03 (see FIG. 7), based on an instruction from the CPU 201, the LCD controller 206 once clears display data on the LCD panel 207 (step S30), and outputs the display screen data read into the RAM 203 to the LCD panel 207. LCD display control is performed (step S31).

  In step S04 (see FIG. 8), similarly to the conventional operation unit system, the CPU 201 rewrites the data on the RAM 203 based on an instruction from the main system, thereby performing display screen drawing / display switching processing. (Steps S40 to S43).

  Here, the reason why the display image data area can be selectively developed in step S02 will be described.

  When boot processing is performed as usual as in the prior art, all display image data is stored in the RAM 203. However, when displaying the initial screen, it is not necessary that all data is stored in the RAM 203 immediately after booting. If display image data necessary for displaying the initial screen is stored for the time being, the initial screen is displayed. Can be displayed.

  For this reason, when it is desired to display the initial screen as soon as possible, it is possible to save time by selecting only necessary image data and performing DMA transfer. When the transfer of the initial screen data is completed, the OS / application is started to display the initial screen, and thereafter the screen data is read from the data area of the ROM 204 as needed based on the instructions of the OS / application. It can be expanded in the RAM 203. For this reason, here, the display image data is selectively developed before the initial screen is displayed.

  In a conventional operation unit control system, drawing and display are performed in accordance with an instruction from the main system until an initial display screen that enables operation of the operation unit is displayed. For this reason, it takes about several tens of seconds from turning on the power to displaying the initial screen due to the start-up time of the main system itself and the data communication time.

  On the other hand, the operation unit control system 107 of the present invention uses various data stored in the NAND flash memory in a state in which it is boot-processed in advance and expanded as execution memory image data as an application. Is no longer necessary.

  Furthermore, by adopting a DMA module for data expansion of the NAND flash memory, a capacity of about 100 megabytes can be expanded in a few seconds.

  In addition, since only the data to be expanded based on the setting flag is selected from a plurality of display screen data and the data is expanded, the amount of data to be expanded is reduced,

  Compared with the conventional operation unit control system, the start-up time can be greatly shortened, and the waiting time until the operation becomes possible after the AC switch is turned on can be reduced.

  In addition, multiple initial display screens that have been boot-processed can be displayed multiple times, but when storing data in the NAND flash memory that has been boot-processed and deployed as an application in advance, it supports multiple initial display screens Instead of preparing a plurality of boot processed data, the common parts such as OS / applications are stored in common, and only the initial display screen data that must be prepared individually is stored in each. Since the data is stored correspondingly, an increase in cost due to an increase in NAND flash memory capacity can be avoided.

  Since a plurality of patterns of screen data are held, the initial display screen can be changed for each device, and the initial display screen can be made according to the request of each user.

  For example, in an image forming apparatus having a plurality of apparatus functions such as a copy function, a scanner function, and a fax (facsimile) function, and the apparatus in which the copy function is frequently used, the copy setting is set to the initial screen when the AC switch is turned on. It is possible to display a screen and to display a fax setting screen on the initial screen when the AC switch is turned on in a device that frequently uses the fax function. Can be improved.

  In addition, the conventional image forming apparatus has an energy saving mode. In the energy saving mode, the display screen data is held without turning off the power of the volatile memory, and the display data is displayed by using the held data in the volatile memory at the time of return. Although the recovery time has been shortened, even in the energy-saving mode, the entire operation unit control system is turned off, and at the time of recovery, the same processing method as when the AC switch is turned on can be used to return from the energy-saving mode. The power consumption in the energy saving mode can be reduced without significantly reducing the time.

  Here, the setting flag for selecting the initial display screen stored in the ROM 204 is configured to be changeable from a dedicated setting screen.

  The dedicated setting screen may be configured such that each screen image is displayed as a thumbnail as shown in FIG. 9 and is selected from the thumbnails, or selected from the screen title as shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, when the configuration is selected from the screen title, if the configuration is to also set the initial screen when starting (returning) from another state (energy saving mode etc.), the operator It becomes easy to grasp the setting intention, and confusion can be suppressed.

  In this case, the normal user can set and change which screen is the initial display screen. However, the screen may be set and changed only when a specific operation is performed.

  In general, an image forming apparatus has a special mode that can be set and viewed only by a specific operator such as a customer engineer. If this special mode is set, this function can be achieved with a simple configuration. it can.

  Further, when the initial display screen is changed, the ROM stored data may be rewritten. In this case, although the setting itself is complicated, the ROM capacity can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the activation time can be shortened and the waiting time until the operation becomes possible can be reduced.

  Furthermore, since a plurality of initial display screen data are stored in the NAND flash memory, each device can have an initial display screen according to the user's request, and the usability of the device can be improved.

  In addition, when storing data in a state that has been boot-processed and deployed as an application in the NAND flash memory, since a common part such as an OS / application is stored in common, the NAND flash Cost increase due to increase in memory capacity can be avoided.

  In addition, when the return operation from the energy saving mode is the same as the startup operation when the AC switch is turned on, the power consumption in the energy saving mode can be reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of apparatus functions including a copy function, a scanner function, and a fax (facsimile) function. The present invention can be similarly applied to the image forming apparatus provided.

1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The block diagram which showed the specific example of the operation part control system. Schematic which showed an example of the memory content of ROM202,204. The flowchart which showed an example of operation | movement of the operation part control system 107 at the time of starting. The flowchart which showed an example of step S01. The flowchart which showed an example of step S02. The flowchart which showed an example of step S03. The flowchart which showed an example of step S04. Schematic which showed an example of the setting screen. Schematic which showed the other example of the setting screen.

Explanation of symbols

102 Main System 107 Operation Unit Control System 201 CPU (Central Processing Unit)
202,204 ROM (read-only memory)
203 RAM (Random Access Memory)

Claims (2)

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of device functions and displaying a display screen corresponding to each device function to a user when the corresponding device function is selected,
An execution memory image of a system program and an application program developed in a work area of the CPU, and storage means for storing a plurality of display screen data for displaying a plurality of display screens corresponding to the respective device functions,
In the boot process executed at startup, the execution memory image stored in the storage means and the display screen data corresponding to the device function set to be executed at startup in advance are read into a work area, and the CPU An image forming apparatus characterized in that the image forming apparatus is executed. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus, comprising a plurality of device functions, and displaying a display screen corresponding to each device function to a user when the corresponding device function is selected,
Execution memory images of system programs and application programs developed in the work area of the CPU, and a plurality of display screen data for displaying a plurality of display screens corresponding to the respective device functions,
In the boot process executed at startup, the stored execution memory image and the display screen data corresponding to the device function set to be executed at startup in advance are read into a work area and executed by the CPU. A control method for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that it is configured as described above.