JP2009009323A - Setting device, electronic equipment, and setting program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a setting device, electronic equipment and a settlement program for enabling an operator who requests rewriting of the set value of an image forming apparatus to make a request for the rewriting of the set value regardless of the state of the image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: This setting device acquires a set value for update for updating a setup set value as a set value which has been set in an information processor, and acquires state information showing whether or not the state of the information processor is such a state that the setup set value can be rewritten to the set value for update from the information processor, and when the acquired state information shows the state that the setup set value can be rewritten to the set value for update, the setting device requests the information processor to rewrite the setup set value to the set value for update, and when the state information shows the state that the setup set value can not be rewritten to the set value for update, the setting device stores the set value for update, and waits until acquiring the state information showing that the setup set value can be rewritten to the set value for update, and requests the information processor to rewrite the setup set value to the set value for update. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a setting device, an electronic device, and a setting program.

  Conventionally, when a setting value is rewritten from an external management center that manages the image forming apparatus connected to the network, in order to reliably rewrite the setting value, an engineer is used. It was necessary to dispatch to the image forming apparatus and stop the function of the image forming apparatus at the site.

In relation to this technique, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for updating an image processing apparatus remotely using a communication function, storing update data in a temporary storage, and updating based on the data. Has been.
Japanese Patent No. 3730183

  In this technical background, even if the setting value is rewritten by remote operation without dispatching an engineer, it is set unless the function is stopped, such as when the image forming apparatus is not executing processing such as printing. The value could not be rewritten.

  Therefore, there is a problem that the operator of the management center cannot rewrite the setting value until the image forming apparatus is in a state where the setting value can be rewritten.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a setting device, an electronic device, and a setting program that allow an operator who requests rewriting of setting values of an image forming apparatus to request rewriting of setting values regardless of the state of the image forming apparatus. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes an update setting value acquisition means for acquiring an update setting value for updating a set value that is a setting value set in the information processing apparatus. Storage means for storing the setting value acquired by the update setting value acquisition means, and whether or not the state of the information processing apparatus is a state in which the set setting value can be rewritten to the setting value for update State information acquisition means for acquiring the state information to be indicated from the information processing apparatus, and the state information acquired by the state information acquisition means indicates a state in which the set setting value can be rewritten to the setting value for update The information processing apparatus requests the information processing apparatus to rewrite the set setting value to the setting value for update, and the status information acquired by the status information acquisition unit uses the set setting value for the update. In the case where a fixed value indicates a non-rewritable state, the update setting value is stored in the storage means, and the state information acquisition means indicates that the set setting value can be rewritten to the update setting value Requesting means for requesting the information processing apparatus to rewrite the set setting value to the setting value for update stored in the storage means after waiting until information is acquired.

  The invention of claim 2 is the invention of claim 1, wherein the set value includes a plurality of types, and the update set value acquisition means acquires the update set value from a higher-level device, and stores the stored value. When the update setting value of the same type as the update setting value stored by the means is newly acquired from the host device, the request means stores the newly acquired update setting value in the storage means. I don't remember.

  Further, the invention of claim 3 is the invention of claim 2, in which when an update setting value of the same type as the update setting value stored in the storage means is newly acquired from the host device, The information processing apparatus further includes output means for outputting information indicating that the same type of update setting value has already been acquired to the host device.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, the request unit determines that the state of the information processing device is the set setting value for the update. And a state determination information storage unit in which information for determining whether or not the state is rewritable is stored.

  The invention according to claim 5 includes the setting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and the information processing device.

  The invention according to claim 6 is an update setting value acquisition step for acquiring an update setting value for updating a set setting value that is a setting value set in the information processing apparatus, and the state of the information processing apparatus is The status information acquisition step of acquiring status information indicating whether or not the set setting value can be rewritten to the update setting value from the information processing apparatus, and the status information acquired by the status information acquisition step include When the set setting value indicates a state where the set value for updating can be rewritten to the set value for update, the information processing device is requested to rewrite the set value for setting to the set value for update, and the status information acquisition When the status information acquired in the step indicates a state in which the set setting value cannot be rewritten to the setting value for update, the status information acquired in the setting value acquisition step for update is acquired. The setting value for update is stored in a storage means for storing the set value, and until the state information indicating that the set setting value can be rewritten to the setting value for update is acquired by the state information acquisition step And a requesting step for requesting the information processing apparatus to rewrite the set setting value to the setting value for update stored in the storage means after waiting.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain an effect that an operator who requests rewriting of setting values of the image forming apparatus can request rewriting of setting values regardless of the state of the image forming apparatus.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to avoid an erroneous operation due to a rewrite request due to an operator's erroneous operation.

  According to the invention of claim 3, it is possible to notify the operator of an erroneous operation of the operator.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily add a new state or delete a state by simply updating the information stored in the state determination information storage unit.

  According to the fifth aspect of the invention, an effect is obtained in which an operator who requests rewriting of setting values of the image forming apparatus can request rewriting of setting values regardless of the state of the image forming apparatus.

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, an effect is obtained in which an operator who requests rewriting of setting values of the image forming apparatus can request rewriting of setting values regardless of the state of the image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an example in which an image forming apparatus is applied as an information processing apparatus will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration according to the present embodiment. In the figure, a setting device 10, an image forming device 12, a PC (Personal Computer) 14, and a network connecting them are shown.

  The PC 14 is connected to the setting device 10 via a network. The PC 14 is, for example, a personal computer installed in a management center of the image forming apparatus 12, and is used by an operator to rewrite set values of the image forming apparatus 12.

  The setting device 10 is connected to the PC 14 via a network, and is connected to the image forming device 12 through a serial interface. The setting device 10 is a device for updating a set setting value that is a setting value set in the image forming apparatus 12, and an operator obtains a setting value rewriting request from the PC 14 via a network. This set value rewrite request includes the set value (update set value) and the type of the set value. Then, the setting device 10 requests the image forming device 12 to rewrite the set setting value to the update setting value.

  The image forming apparatus 12 notifies the setting apparatus 10 of status information to be described later through a serial interface. The notification of the state information may be sent spontaneously from the image forming apparatus 12 to the setting apparatus 10 or may be notified in response to a request from the setting apparatus 10. When notifying voluntarily, state information is notified every time the state changes. When notification is made in response to a request from the setting device 10, state information at the time of request from the setting device 10 is notified.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 12 rewrites the set setting value to the update setting value in response to a rewrite request from the setting apparatus 10. As a result, the image forming apparatus 12 can rewrite the set value even when not connected to the network. Of course, the image forming apparatus 12 may be connected to a network.

  Further, a configuration in which the setting device 10 is incorporated into the image forming device 12 to form one electronic device may be used.

  Next, the configuration of the setting device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The setting device 10 includes a CPU 18, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 20, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 22, a communication I / F 24, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 26, a display unit 28, and an operation input unit 30. And a bus 32.

  The CPU 18 governs the overall operation of the setting device 10, and processing shown in a sequence diagram to be described later is executed by the CPU 18. The HDD 20 is a storage device that stores a database (hereinafter referred to as DB), a program, an OS (Operating System), and the like, which will be described later. The RAM 22 is a storage device in which the OS, programs, data, and the like are expanded. A cache is provided in the RAM 22. The cache is for storing the acquired update setting value, and in the case of the present embodiment, the update setting value and its type are stored.

  The communication I / F 24 is for connecting to the network, and includes a NIC and its driver. The communication I / F 24 includes a serial interface for connecting to the image forming apparatus 12.

  The ROM 26 is a storage device that stores a boot program that operates when the setting device 10 is activated. The display unit 28 displays information related to the setting device 10 to the operator of the setting device 10. The operation input unit 30 is used when an operator inputs operations and information of the setting device 10. The bus 32 is used when information is exchanged.

  Next, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 12 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 12 includes a CPU 40, flash memory 42, RAM 44, NVM (Non-Volatile Memory) 46, UI (User Interface) 48, HDD 50, printer engine 52, communication I / F 54, bus 56.

  The CPU 40 governs the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 12, and processing shown in a sequence diagram to be described later is executed by the CPU 40. The flash memory 42 stores a program developed in the RAM 44, a boot program that operates at startup, and the like.

  The RAM 44 is a storage device in which an OS, a program, image data, and the like are expanded. In the NVM 46, the above-described setting value (set setting value) is stored. There are a plurality of types of setting values. Examples of types include the current number of prints, the number of prints that can be used in the month, and a value for sending a warning about the number of prints that can be used to the PC 14, but other types may be used. One may be sufficient. When there is one type, the setting device 10 may not store the type in the above-described cache.

  The communication I / F 54 includes a serial interface for connecting to the setting device 10. When connecting to a network, it is composed of a NIC and its driver.

  The printer engine 52 is an engine that forms an image on a recording medium such as paper. The HDD 50 is a storage device that stores image data and the like. The UI 48 is used when a user inputs an operation or information on the image forming apparatus 12. The bus 56 is used when information is exchanged.

  For example, a scanner engine or an interface for connecting to a telephone line may be added to the configuration described above.

  Further, “processing” used in the following description means processing such as printing executed in the image forming apparatus 12.

  Next, the state determination DB stored in the HDD 20 of the setting device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The state determination DB stores information for determining whether the state of the image forming apparatus 12 is a state in which the set setting value can be rewritten to the update setting value.

  This state determination DB includes three items of “state”, “cache”, and “processing”. Among these, “state” indicates the state of the image forming apparatus. Among them, the “processing waiting state” shown in the figure indicates a state where the image forming apparatus 12 is not executing processing. The “processing execution state” indicates a state in which the image forming apparatus 12 is executing processing. “Fault state (non-rewritable)” indicates a state in which a serious failure has occurred in the image forming apparatus 12. “Fault state (rewritable)” indicates a state in which a minor failure has occurred in the image forming apparatus 12. The “energy star state” indicates a state of operating with power saving, and indicates a state where the amount of power consumed is larger than that in the “power saving state” described later. The “power saving state” indicates a state in which the amount of power consumed is smaller than that in the “energy star state” described above. “Power-off state” indicates a state in which the image forming apparatus 12 is turned off.

  “Cache” indicates whether or not the setting value for update acquired by the above-described setting value rewriting request and the type of the setting value are stored in the RAM 22. "X" indicates that no memory is stored. “Setting value acquisition processing” indicates what processing is to be performed in the corresponding “state”.

  Among the “setting value acquisition processing”, “immediate rewriting” indicates processing for immediately requesting the image forming apparatus 12 to rewrite when a setting value rewriting request is acquired from the PC 14. “Rewrite after completion of processing” indicates a process of requesting the image forming apparatus 12 to rewrite after completion of an ongoing process when a setting value rewrite request is acquired from the PC 14. “Error notification to PC (operator)” indicates a process of notifying the PC 14 of an error indicating that a serious failure has occurred when a setting value rewriting request is acquired from the PC 14. “Rewrite after return” is a function of returning to the image forming apparatus 12 after returning from the energy star state or the power saving state to the normal state (the state where the energy star state or the power saving state is released) when the setting value rewriting request is acquired from the PC 14. The process which requests rewriting is shown. “Rewrite after power-on” indicates a process of requesting the image forming apparatus 12 to rewrite after the setting value rewrite request is acquired from the PC 14 and the image forming apparatus is switched from the power-off state to the power-on state.

  For example, when the “state” is in the process waiting state, when the setting value rewriting request is acquired from the PC 14, the setting device 10 does not cache the setting value for update and the type acquired by the setting value rewriting request, and immediately forms an image. The device 12 is requested to rewrite.

  Next, processing performed by the setting device 10, the image forming device 12, and the PC 14 will be described using a sequence diagram. In the following sequence diagram, the image forming apparatus 12 voluntarily notifies the state information. Further, it is assumed that there are a plurality of types of setting values. Therefore, the setting device 10 acquires the setting value for update and the type, but when there is one type, the setting device 10 does not need to acquire the type.

  First, the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 5 will be described. The sequence diagram shown in FIG. 5 shows processing when the state information indicates a state in which the set setting value can be rewritten to the setting value for update, and this processing shows the “immediate rewriting” processing described in FIG. Yes.

  In step 101, the image forming apparatus 12 voluntarily notifies the state information by changing the state. In response to this, the setting device 10 acquires the notified state in step 102. Thereafter, in step 103, a setting value rewriting request is notified from the PC 14, and in step 104, the setting device 10 acquires the setting value for update and the type.

  In the next step 105, the setting device 10 checks the cache. Checking this cache means checking whether or not a new update setting value of the same type as the update setting value stored in the cache has been newly acquired from the PC 14, and other sequence diagrams described later. But they are used interchangeably.

  In the next step 106, the state of the image forming apparatus 12 is confirmed based on the state acquired in the previous step 102, and the acquired state information indicates a state in which the set setting value can be rewritten to the update setting value. In step 107, it is determined whether or not. Here, it is determined that rewriting is possible. “Rewritable” means that “cache” corresponding to “state” excluding “Fault state (unrewritable)” is “x” in the state determination DB shown in FIG.

  In the next step 108, the setting device 10 issues a rewrite request to the image forming device 12. In this rewrite request, both the type and the setting value for update are notified. In step 109, the image forming apparatus 12 rewrites the set setting value to the update setting value. When the rewriting is completed, the image forming apparatus 12 notifies the setting apparatus 10 of the completion of rewriting in step 110. At this time, “OK” is notified when the rewriting is successful, and “NG” is notified when the rewriting is unsuccessful. In this case, it is assumed that the rewriting is successful.

  In the next step 111, the setting device 10 notifies the PC 14 of the set value rewrite notification with OK.

  Next, the sequence diagram shown in FIG. 6 will be described. The sequence diagram shown in FIG. 6 shows processing when the set setting value indicates a state in which it cannot be rewritten to the setting value for update. This processing includes the “rewriting after processing completion” processing described in FIG. 4 shows a “rewrite after” process and a “rewrite after power on” process.

  In step 201, the image forming apparatus 12 voluntarily notifies the state information by changing the state. In response to this, the setting device 10 acquires the notified state in step 202. Thereafter, in step 203, a setting value rewrite request is notified from the PC 14, and in step 204, the setting device 10 acquires the setting value for update and the type.

  In the next step 205, the setting device 10 checks the cache. In the next step 206, the state of the image forming apparatus 12 is confirmed based on the state acquired in the previous step 202, and the acquired state information is a state in which the set setting value can be rewritten to the update setting value. Is determined in step 207. Here, it is determined that rewriting is impossible. This “unrewritable” means that “cache” corresponding to “state” is “◯” in the state determination DB shown in FIG.

  In the next step 208, the setting device 10 stores the update setting value and type in the cache, and waits until status information indicating that the set setting value can be rewritten to the update setting value is acquired.

  In step 209, the image forming apparatus 12 voluntarily notifies the state information by changing the state. In response to this, the setting device 10 acquires the notified state in step 210. In the next step 211, it is determined whether or not the state information acquired in the previous step 210 indicates a state in which the set setting value can be rewritten to the update setting value. Here, it is determined that rewriting is possible. If it cannot be rewritten, it further waits until status information indicating that the set setting value can be rewritten to the update setting value is acquired.

  In the next step 212, the setting apparatus 10 issues a rewrite request to the image forming apparatus 12. In this rewrite request, both the type and the setting value for update are notified. In step 213, the image forming apparatus 12 rewrites the set setting value to the update setting value. When the rewriting is completed, the image forming apparatus 12 notifies the setting apparatus 10 of the completion of rewriting with OK in step 214.

  In the next step 215, the setting device 10 notifies the PC 14 of the setting value rewrite notification with OK.

  Next, the sequence diagram of FIG. 7 will be described. The sequence diagram shown in FIG. 7 shows that when a new update setting value of the same type as the update setting value stored in the cache is newly acquired from the PC 14, the same type of update setting is already stored in the PC 14. The process of outputting information indicating that a value is acquired is shown.

  In step 301, the image forming apparatus 12 voluntarily notifies the state information by changing the state. In response to this, the setting device 10 acquires the notified state in step 302. Thereafter, in step 303, a setting value rewrite request is notified from the PC 14, and in step 304, the setting device 10 acquires the setting value for update and the type.

  In the next step 305, the setting device 10 checks the cache. In the next step 306, the state of the image forming apparatus 12 is confirmed based on the state acquired in the previous step 302, and the state information acquired in step 307 rewrites the set setting value to the update setting value. It is determined whether or not a possible state is indicated. Here, it is determined that rewriting is impossible.

  In the next step 308, the setting device 10 stores the update setting value and type in the cache, and waits until status information indicating that the set setting value can be rewritten to the update setting value is acquired.

  In this waiting state, a setting value rewrite request is notified from the PC 14 in step 309, and the setting device 10 acquires the setting value for update and the type in step 310. Here, it is assumed that an update setting value of the same type as the update setting value stored in the cache is newly acquired from the PC 14.

  In the next step 311, the setting device 10 checks the cache. Based on the confirmation of the cache, it is determined in next step 312 that the cache has the same type of setting values for update. In this case, the new setting value for update is not stored in the cache. In step 313, the setting device 10 outputs a write error notification that is information indicating that the same type of setting value for update has already been acquired.

  In the sequence diagram described above, when the process for writing the update setting value is not performed even after a predetermined time has elapsed, the setting device 10 notifies the PC 14 of a timeout error. In the case of this time-out error, the information stored in the cache is erased and the PC 14 is notified that writing of the setting value for update has failed.

  When the failure is notified to the PC 14, an error code is also notified, and a technician may be dispatched according to the error code.

  If the image forming apparatus 12 simply does not notify the status information, it may be determined whether or not to dispatch an engineer with reference to an error code returned when the next set value rewrite request is transmitted. .

  Note that the processing flow of each sequence diagram described above is an example, and the processing order is changed, new steps are added, or unnecessary steps are deleted without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say, you can.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of a setting apparatus. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows state judgment DB. It is a sequence diagram which shows a process in case state information shows the state which can rewrite the set setting value to the setting value for an update. It is a sequence diagram which shows a process in the case of showing the state which cannot rewrite the set setting value to the setting value for an update. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating a process of outputting information indicating that the same type of update setting value is already acquired when an update setting value of the same type as the stored update setting value is acquired. .

Explanation of symbols

10 Setting Device 12 Image Forming Device 14 PC
18, 40 CPU
20, 50 HDD
22, 44 RAM
24, 54 Network I / F
26 ROM
28 Display unit 30 Operation input unit 42 Flash memory 46 NVM
52 Printer Engine 48 UI

Claims (6)

An update setting value acquisition means for acquiring an update setting value for updating a set setting value that is a setting value set in the information processing apparatus;
Storage means for storing the setting value acquired by the update setting value acquisition means;
State information acquisition means for acquiring state information indicating whether or not the state of the information processing apparatus is a state in which the set setting value can be rewritten to the setting value for update, from the information processing apparatus;
When the state information acquired by the state information acquisition unit indicates a state in which the set setting value can be rewritten to the setting value for update, the set setting value is updated to the information processing apparatus. When the state information acquired by the state information acquisition unit indicates that the set setting value cannot be rewritten to the update setting value, the storage unit stores the setting information. An update setting value is stored, and after waiting for the state information indicating that the set information can be rewritten to the update setting value by the state information acquisition unit, the set setting is stored in the information processing apparatus. Request means for requesting to rewrite the value to the set value for update stored in the storage means;
A setting device. There are multiple types of setting values,
The update setting value acquisition unit acquires the update setting value from the host device, and newly acquires an update setting value of the same type as the update setting value stored in the storage unit from the host device. 2. The setting device according to claim 1, wherein the request unit does not store the newly acquired setting value for update in the storage unit.   When a new update setting value of the same type as the update setting value stored in the storage unit is newly acquired from the higher-level device, the same type of update setting value is already acquired for the higher-level device. The setting device according to claim 2, further comprising output means for outputting information indicating that the information is being displayed.   The request unit further includes a state determination information storage unit in which information for determining whether the state of the information processing apparatus is a state in which the set setting value can be rewritten to the update setting value is stored. The setting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   An electronic apparatus comprising the setting device according to claim 1 and the information processing device. An update setting value acquisition step for acquiring an update setting value for updating a set setting value that is a setting value set in the information processing device;
A state information acquisition step of acquiring state information indicating whether or not the state of the information processing apparatus is a state in which the set setting value can be rewritten to the setting value for update from the information processing apparatus;
When the state information acquired by the state information acquisition step indicates a state in which the set setting value can be rewritten to the setting value for update, the set setting value is updated to the information processing apparatus. When it is requested to rewrite the setting value, and the state information acquired by the state information acquisition step indicates a state in which the set setting value cannot be rewritten to the update setting value, the update setting value The state information indicating that the setting value for update is stored in a storage unit for storing the setting value acquired in the acquisition step, and the set setting value can be rewritten to the setting value for update in the state information acquisition step. After waiting until the information is acquired, the information processing device is requested to rewrite the set setting value with the setting value for update stored in the storage unit. And a request step that,
A setting program for causing a computer to execute a process having

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