JP2010074500A - Apparatus with a plurality of functions, and control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology allowing the continuous use of the same function even if it is transposed to an apparatus having a different functional configuration. <P>SOLUTION: An apparatus with a plurality of functions includes a storage part (external storage part 40 or the like) which stores a program for achieving a function, and data to be referenced by the program, a backup means (an instruction part 101, a backup data determination part 102, a backup part 103, or the like) for backing up data belonging to a function among the data stored in the storage part into a storage region different from the storage part for each of a plurality of functions, a restoring means (a restoration function recognizing part 104, a restoration data determining part 105, a restoration part 106) for restoring data belonging to a function among a plurality of functions, in the data backed up in the storage region, in the storage part, and a contradiction resolution part 107 for resolving the contradiction of restored data due to of data restoration by the restoring means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a device having a plurality of functions and a control device.

In recent years, a technique for backing up information stored in a storage device inside an image forming apparatus having a copy function, a print function, a scan function, and the like has attracted attention.
For example, in Patent Document 1, the information stored in a hard disk drive (HDD) installed in an image forming apparatus is backed up to a hard disk drive (HDD) installed in a server connected to the network by a local area network (LAN). Is described.

JP 2005-63421 A

An apparatus having a plurality of functions, such as an image forming apparatus, has a different functional configuration depending on the model. Therefore, when a device used so far is replaced with a new device, the function configuration may be different between the new and old devices.
At this time, even when replacing with a device with a different function configuration, the same function is continued by copying the backup data of the data stored in the device used so far to the new device. It is preferable that it can be used.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage unit that stores a program for realizing the function provided for each of a plurality of functions, data referred to by the program, and a data stored in the storage unit. A backup means for backing up data belonging to the function for each of the plurality of functions to a storage area different from the storage unit, and one function among the plurality of functions among the data backed up in the storage area An apparatus having a plurality of functions, including: a restore unit that restores data belonging to the storage unit to the storage unit; and a contradiction resolution unit that eliminates a contradiction with respect to the restored data caused by the restoration of data by the restore unit It is.
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the backup means determines data to be backed up based on meta information of data stored in the storage unit. It is a device that has.
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the restore means grasps data to be restored based on meta information of data backed up in the storage area, and restores the data. 2. A device having a plurality of functions described in 2.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the contradiction resolving unit is configured such that one of the data restored by the restore unit has a contradiction, or one of the data restored by the restore unit is 2. When a contradiction occurs in data referring to data, the reference relationship between the data in which the contradiction occurs and the data referred to by the data in which the contradiction is referenced is eliminated. 4. An apparatus having a plurality of functions according to any one of items 3 to 3.
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, when the contradiction resolving unit has a contradiction in a program that references one data among the data restored by the restore unit, the contradiction occurs. The apparatus having a plurality of functions according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a reference relationship with data referred to by the program is canceled.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage unit that stores a program for realizing the function provided for each of a plurality of functions, data referred to by the program, and a data stored in the storage unit. Among these, the apparatus has a plurality of functions including backup means for backing up data belonging to the function to a storage area different from the storage unit for each of the plurality of functions.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the backup means includes an instruction unit that instructs backup of one of the plurality of functions, and data belonging to the function instructed by the instruction unit. And a backup data determination unit that determines the recognized data as data to be backed up, and a backup unit that executes a backup process of the data determined by the backup data determination unit. Item 7. A device having a plurality of functions according to Item 6.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage unit that stores a program for realizing a plurality of functions of the apparatus, and a storage area that stores data belonging to one of the plurality of functions different from the storage unit. The apparatus has a plurality of functions, including: a duplicating unit that duplicates data from a data source; and a contradiction resolving unit that eliminates a contradiction with respect to the duplicated data caused by duplication of data by the duplicating unit.
The invention according to claim 9 is that the duplication unit recognizes which function of the plurality of functions is to be duplicated, and a function recognized by the duplication target function recognition unit. A copy data determination unit for recognizing data belonging to the data based on the meta information of the data and determining the recognized data as data to be replicated, and a replication execution for executing the replication process of the data determined by the copy data determination unit The apparatus having a plurality of functions according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus has a plurality of functions.

  According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, among the data stored in the storage unit provided in another device having a plurality of functions, the data belonging to the function is stored differently from the storage unit for each of the plurality of functions. Backup means for backing up to an area; restore means for restoring data belonging to one of the functions among the data backed up to the storage area to the storage unit; and data restoration by the restore means And a contradiction resolution unit that resolves a contradiction with respect to restored data that is caused by the above.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even when a device having a different functional configuration is replaced, the same function can be continuously provided.
According to claim 2 of the present invention, data to be backed up can be determined more reliably than in the case where the present invention is not adopted.
According to claim 3 of the present invention, data to be restored can be determined more reliably than in the case where the present invention is not adopted.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, even if a contradiction occurs in one of the data restored by the restoration means, the same function can be continuously provided as it is.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, even when there is a contradiction in a program that references one of the data restored by the restoring means, the same function can be continuously provided as it is. .
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the time required for one backup process can be shortened as compared with the case where the present invention is not adopted.
According to claim 7 of the present invention, data to be backed up can be determined more reliably than when the present invention is not adopted.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, data can be replicated in units of functions even when a device having a different functional configuration is replaced.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to determine data to be copied more reliably than in the case where the present invention is not adopted.
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, even when a device having a different functional configuration is replaced, the same function can be continuously provided.

The best mode (embodiment) for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a network system 1000 according to the present embodiment.
A network system 1000 according to the present embodiment includes image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 which are apparatuses having a plurality of functions such as a copying function, a facsimile function, a scanner function, and a printer function. The image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 are connected via a local area network (LAN) 3. The image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 are connected to the server 4 via the LAN 3.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 in the present embodiment. Since the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 have the same configuration, the image forming apparatus 1 will be described below as a representative example.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10 that controls the operation of the entire apparatus, an image forming unit 20 that forms an image on a medium, an image reading unit 30 that reads an image on a document, and a control. And an external storage unit 40 that stores data used for processing by the unit 10. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a network connection unit 50 that communicates with other devices via a network, a communication line connection unit 60 for facsimile transmission / reception, and an operation unit having a display screen and various operation buttons. 70.
The image forming unit 20, the image reading unit 30, the external storage unit 40, the network connection unit 50, the communication line connection unit 60, and the operation unit 70 are electrically connected to the control unit 10.

  The control unit 10 is a microcomputer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 provides functions such as a copy function and a facsimile function by the CPU reading and executing a program from a storage area such as the external storage unit 40 or the ROM to control the operation of each unit described above. Is possible. In other words, each function of the image forming apparatus 1 is realized by cooperation of software and hardware resources. That is, when the image forming apparatus 1 realizes a certain function, the CPU of the control unit 10 reads out and executes a program for realizing the function from the storage area.

  The image forming unit 20 forms an image on a medium based on the result of image processing in the control unit 10. The image forming unit 20 is, for example, a printer, and is an electrophotographic system that forms an image by transferring toner adhered to a photosensitive member to a recording medium, or an inkjet system that forms an image by ejecting ink onto the recording medium. Things can be illustrated.

The image reading unit 30 reads an image of a document. The image reading unit 30 is, for example, a scanner, and reduces the reflected light with respect to the light irradiated on the document from the light source by a lens and receives the light with a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices), or the light sequentially irradiated on the document from the LED light source A CIS system that receives reflected light with a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) can be exemplified.
The external storage unit 40 is realized by, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD). A program executed by the control unit 10 is stored in the external storage unit 40. When the control unit 10 reads and executes this program when the image forming apparatus 1 is started up, the image according to the present embodiment is stored. Operation control in the forming apparatus 1 is executed. In addition, an image to be subjected to image processing, data referred to by the program, and the like are also stored.

The network connection unit 50 includes a LAN card, a modem, or the like that controls communication with other devices via the local area network (LAN) 3. For example, print data is received from a personal computer (PC) or a print server.
The communication line connection unit 60 performs facsimile (FAX) transmission / reception for transmitting / receiving an image through a communication line such as a telephone line. For example, an image signal read by the image reading unit 30 is output as a facsimile signal to a communication line such as a telephone line.
The operation unit 70 can be exemplified as a touch panel display. An operation menu is displayed, and an operation instruction such as a processing request is received from the user, or selection information for the user, an operation status of the apparatus, and the like are displayed.

The image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above includes a backup function for backing up data held in a storage unit such as the external storage unit 40 to a storage area different from the original storage unit, and data from the backup destination. And a restore function to restore.
The configuration for demonstrating the backup function and the restore function will be described below.

  The image forming apparatus 1 has a plurality of functions such as a copying function and a facsimile function, and each function is exhibited when the CPU of the control unit 10 executes a program for realizing each function. Each program realizes a function by referring to data as necessary. The data refers to other data as necessary. The relationship between the programs and data for realizing each function will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between programs and data belonging to functions in the image forming apparatus 1. The arrows in FIG. 3 represent the dependence from the program to the data or the dependence from the data to the data. In FIG. 3, a function X belongs to a program X for realizing the function X and data A and B on which the program X depends. The function Y includes a program Y for realizing the function Y and data C and D on which the program Y depends. In addition, the function Z belongs to a program Z for realizing the function Z and data E and F on which the program Z depends.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the program Y of the function Y also depends on the data A belonging to the function X. Further, the data F of the function Z depends on the data B belonging to the function X. Note that “the program depends on data” means that data is required to realize a function as desired, for example, that data is referred to in the program. In addition, data being dependent on other data means that the data refers to other data, for example.

More specifically, the functions X, Y, Z and the data A, B, C, D, E, F can be exemplified as the following functions and data.
Function X is a “user management function”, function Y is a “fax destination management function”, and function Z is a “document management function”. The external storage unit 40 and a storage unit such as a ROM hold programs X, Y, and Z for realizing the functions X, Y, and Z, and data A, B, C, D, E, and F. Yes.

  The data A can be exemplified as a list of persons who belong to a certain department in the company in which the image forming apparatus 1 is installed and are authorized to use the image forming apparatus 1. The data B can be exemplified as a list of persons who belong to other departments and are authorized to use the image forming apparatus 1. The data A and B include information such as name, employee number, telephone number, FAX number, e-mail address, etc. as information regarding the person who is authorized to use.

  Data C is data including the name and FAX number of a person belonging to a certain company, and data D is data including the name and FAX number of a person belonging to a company different from the company of Data C. Data E is data including information on the document and the owner of the document. Data F is data including information on the document and the owner of the document. Then, the information of the persons included in the list of data B is referred to as the owner information of the document of data F.

  Each program and data includes meta information such as (1) creation date and time, (2) creator, (3) data format, (4) title, (5) function to which it belongs, and (6) dependent data. Associated. For example, the data F includes (1) creation date and time, (2) creator, (3) data format, (4) title, (5) function Z that belongs to the function, and (6) dependent data. Meta information called data B is associated.

  The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is characterized in that data is backed up in units of functions. That is, the data belonging to the function is collectively backed up so that the data is backed up in units of function, such as data belonging to the function X, data belonging to the function Y, and data belonging to the function Z. For example, taking the dependency shown in FIG. 3 as an example, when backing up the function X, data A and data B belonging to the function X are backed up collectively. When backing up the function Y, the data C and data D belonging to the function Y are backed up collectively. Further, when backing up the function Z, the data E and data F belonging to the function Z are backed up collectively.

It is preferable that the administrator sets the backup timing in advance for each function, for example, the function X is once a week, the function Y is once a month, and the function Z is once a day. is there. Alternatively, the backup process may be performed manually.
And the control part 10 has the instruction | indication part 101 which instruct | indicates the start of the backup about the specific function in a some function (refer FIG. 2). The instructing unit 101 grasps that the backup timing determined by the administrator has been reached, or detects a manual backup start command, and instructs the start of backup for a certain function.

Further, the control unit 10 includes a backup data determination unit 102 (see FIG. 2) that determines data to be backed up. Based on the meta information associated with the data, the backup data determination unit 102 searches for data belonging to the function to be backed up instructed by the instructing unit 101, and backs up data belonging to the function recognized as a result of the search Determine as data.
The control unit 10 also includes a backup unit 103 (see FIG. 2) that delivers data to be backed up to a backup destination. The backup unit 103 reads the data determined as data to be backed up by the backup data determination unit 102 from the storage area, and transfers the data to the backup destination (for example, the server 4 connected via the LAN 3).

The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is characterized in that data backed up in function units is restored in function units.
The control unit 10 includes a restore target function recognition unit 104 (see FIG. 2) that recognizes which function is to be restored among a plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus 1. The restore target function recognition unit 104 recognizes a plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus 1 and then displays a selection screen, for example, a display on the operation unit 70, in order to allow the user to select which function to restore data. Display on the screen. Then, the function whose icon displayed on the display screen is pressed is recognized as a function to be restored.

  In addition, the control unit 10 includes a restore data determination unit 105 (see FIG. 2) that determines data belonging to the function to be restored as data to be restored. The restore data determination unit 105 recognizes data belonging to the function to be restored based on the meta information of the data, and determines the recognized data as data to be restored.

The control unit 10 also has a restore unit 106 (see FIG. 2) that restores data to the storage area. For example, when the backup destination is a storage area in the server 4, the restore unit 106 prompts the server 4 to prepare data to be restored. Then, the restore unit 106 acquires data to be restored from the server 4 and writes it in a storage area (for example, the external storage unit 40).
The control unit 10 has a contradiction resolution unit 107 (see FIG. 2) for resolving the contradiction in the case where a contradiction occurs in the restored data when restoring in function units.

Below, the contradiction which the contradiction elimination part 107 eliminates, and the resolution method of the contradiction are demonstrated.
First, the contradiction between data will be described.
It can be illustrated that the inconsistency between data occurs when: That is, in the example in which the data F of the function Z shown in FIG. 3 depends on the data B of the function X (see data B), the data belonging to the function Z is restored in the following cases: A contradiction arises. (1) When the function X itself does not exist in the restore destination of data belonging to the function Z and there is no dependent data B, (2) the function X exists in the restore destination of data belonging to the function Z. If the data belonging to X has not yet been restored (replicated) and there is no data B belonging to function X and referring to data F, (3) function X exists at the restore destination of data belonging to function Z The data belonging to the function X is restored (replicated), but the data B on which the restored data F of the function Z depends is different before and after the restoration of the data F.

  The contradiction in the above (1), (2), and (3) is, for example, that data stored in the first image forming apparatus is backed up, and the functional configuration of the backed up data is different from that of the first image forming apparatus. This occurs when restoring (duplicating) to the second image forming apparatus. As an example, the data of the image forming apparatus 1 in the network system 1000 shown in FIG. 1 is backed up to the server 4 and the data backed up in the server 4 is restored (duplicated) to the image forming apparatus 2. Alternatively, the data stored in the image forming apparatus 1 is backed up to the server 4 for the purpose of replacing the image forming apparatus 1 installed so far with an image forming apparatus different from the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2. This is a case where the backed up data is restored (replicated) to the image forming apparatus replaced with the image forming apparatus 1.

  Also, the contradiction in (3) above is when the data stored in the backed up image forming apparatus 1 is restored to the same image forming apparatus 1 because the data is lost from the image forming apparatus 1 or the like. Also occurs. For example, when the backup timing periodically performed for the function Z and the function X is different, the data B that existed at the time of the backup of the function Z is subsequently deleted before the data F is restored, and the data belonging to the function X in that state Occurs when the data belonging to the function X and the data belonging to the function Z are restored. Alternatively, the elements in the data B that existed at the time of backup of the data belonging to the function Z are then deleted before the data belonging to the function Z is restored, and the function X is backed up in this state, and the data belonging to the function X This occurs when data belonging to function Z is restored.

In addition, the contradiction between data is an example in which the data F of the function Z shown in FIG. 3 depends on the data B belonging to the function X (see data B). Also occurs when restored. For example, when data that has been backed up due to loss of data belonging to the function X from the image forming apparatus 1 is restored to the image forming apparatus 1, a contradiction occurs for the following reason. (4) When the data B does not exist at the time of the previous backup for the function X, and the data of the function X is lost while the data F of the function Z is created after the previous backup and is referenced, the function X Inconsistency occurs when data belonging to is restored and restored to the state of the previous backup that does not include data B.
Further, when the data (data different from the data A to F) belonging to the function (function different from the functions X, Y, and Z) that the image forming apparatus 2 has uniquely refers to the data B, the server 4 is notified. The inconsistency (4) also occurs when the data B of the image forming apparatus 1 that has been backed up is copied to the image forming apparatus 2.

Next, the contradiction between the program for realizing the function and the data will be described.
It can be exemplified that the contradiction between the program for realizing the function and the data occurs in the following case. 3 is an example in which the program Y for realizing the function Y shown in FIG. 3 depends on the data A belonging to the function X. For example, backup is performed because the data of the function X is lost from the image forming apparatus 1. When data A belonging to the function X is restored to the image forming apparatus 1, a contradiction occurs for the following reason. (5) Data belonging to function X when data A does not exist at the time of the previous backup for function X, and data of function X is lost after program Y has been created and is dependent on program Y Is restored and restored to the state of the previous backup that does not include data A.

Next, the contradiction between the data and the data and the contradiction between the program for realizing the function and the data performed by the contradiction resolution unit 107 will be described.
First, a method for resolving inconsistency between data when certain data described above depends on other data will be described in detail.
In order to eliminate the contradiction that occurs when certain data is dependent on other data, the dependency between the data and the data may be eliminated. In the case of the contradictions (1), (2), (3), and (4), the dependency state between the function F data F and the function X data B may be eliminated. That is, the reference portion of data B in data F may be deleted. More specifically, the function Z is a document management function, and refers to a person included in the list of data B as the document owner, but is included in the list of data B regarding the owner of the document of data F. The person who has been deleted is deleted and changed to another person. This eliminates the contradiction.

  The contradiction resolution unit 107 may urge the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 to manually correct, for example. The contradiction resolution unit 107 displays, for example, a message prompting the operation unit 70 to resolve the contradiction that is the basis of the error after displaying that an error has occurred. In the case of the contradiction described above, for example, a message that the owner of the document of the data F is absent is displayed, and a message that the owner should be changed is displayed. Then, the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 manually changes the owner of the data F of the function Z to resolve the contradiction.

  Alternatively, the contradiction resolution unit 107 may automatically resolve the dependency that caused the contradiction. That is, the contradiction resolution unit 107 may automatically change the owner. For example, when ranking is given to the owner of the document of the data F, the contradiction resolution unit 107 may automatically advance the person of the lower rank as the owner. Alternatively, the contradiction resolution unit 107 may automatically delete the reference portion of the data B of the data F.

  The following can be exemplified as a mode in which the contradiction resolution unit 107 automatically resolves the dependency relationship in which the contradiction occurs. For example, since the restore target function recognition unit 104 recognizes the function that has been restored so far, the contradiction resolution unit 107 acquires information on the data on which the data belonging to the currently restored function depends, and the restore target function recognition Information about whether or not the function to which the dependent data belongs has already been restored is acquired from the section 104. If not restored, the contradiction resolution unit 107 deletes information that the data F is dependent on the data B in order to eliminate the dependency relationship. More specifically, the reference portion of data B is deleted from data F.

Next, a method for resolving inconsistency between a program and data when a program for realizing a certain function described above depends on data of another function will be described in detail.
In order to resolve the contradiction that occurs when a program for realizing a function depends on data of another function, the dependency relationship between the program belonging to the function and the data may be eliminated. In the case of the contradiction (5), the dependency state between the program Y and the data A for realizing the function Y may be eliminated. That is, the reference portion of the data A in the program Y may be deleted. More specifically, the function Y is a fax destination management function, and the data A reference portion in the program Y is recognized so that it does not hold the fax number of the person included in the data A as the fax destination. delete.

  In the case of the contradiction (5), the contradiction resolution unit 107 automatically deletes the reference portion of the data A of the program Y for realizing the function Y. Alternatively, the contradiction resolution unit 107 displays, for example, a message on the operation unit 70 indicating that an error has occurred, and prompting the user to resolve the contradiction that is the basis of the error. Then, the administrator of the image forming apparatus 1 deletes the information that it depends on the data A of the program Y manually, and the contradiction is resolved.

  Thereby, for example, when the user performs FAX transmission, the control unit 10 displays only the FAX number managing and registering the FAX destination on the display screen of the operation unit 70, and only the person included in the data C and data D is displayed. And the FAX number of the person included in the data A is not displayed.

  Hereinafter, the backup process performed by the control unit 10 according to the above-described embodiment will be described using a flowchart. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of backup processing performed by the control unit 10.

  First, the instruction unit 101 determines whether it is time to start a backup job (S201). If an affirmative determination is made, the instruction unit 101 determines which function is the backup job timing and instructs the start of the backup job (S202). On the other hand, if a negative determination is made, this process ends.

Thereafter, the backup data determination unit 102 searches and recognizes data belonging to the function to be backed up instructed by the instruction unit 101 based on the meta information, and determines the recognized data group belonging to the function as data to be backed up. (S203).
Then, the backup unit 103 executes backup processing (S204). That is, the data determined by the backup data determination unit 102 is read from the storage area and transferred to the backup destination. For example, when the backup destination is a server, the backup unit 103 transfers data to be backed up via the network connection unit 50.

  Next, a restore process performed by the control unit 10 according to the present embodiment described above will be described using a flowchart. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the restore process performed by the control unit 10.

  First, the restoration target function recognition unit 104 recognizes which function is to be restored among a plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus 1 (S301). The restoration target function recognition unit 104 grasps a plurality of functions of the image forming apparatus 1 and displays them on the display screen of the operation unit 70 so that the user can select which function data to restore. Then, the function whose icon displayed on the display screen is pressed is recognized as a function to be restored.

  Next, the restore data determination unit 105 determines data belonging to the function to be restored as data to be restored (S302). In other words, the restore data determination unit 105 recognizes data belonging to the function to be restored based on the meta information of the data, and determines the recognized data as data to be restored.

Then, the restore unit 106 acquires the data determined in S302 from the backup destination, and restores the acquired data (S303). For example, when the backup destination is a server, the restore unit 106 prompts the server to prepare data to be restored. Then, the restore unit 106 acquires data to be restored from the server and writes it in the storage area.
Next, it is determined whether or not a contradiction occurs due to the restoration in S303 (S304). As described above, this is determined by the contradiction resolution unit 107 based on the meta information of the data restored in S303 and / or the information on the restored function acquired from the restore target function recognition unit 104.

  If an affirmative determination is made in S304, the contradiction resolution unit 107 resolves the contradiction caused by the restoration (S305). On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in S304, this process is terminated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 which are apparatuses having a plurality of functions store a program for realizing a function provided for each of the plurality of functions and data referred to by the program. A storage area (external storage section 40 and / or ROM) and a storage area (for example, a storage device in a server) that is different from the storage section in the data stored in the storage section and that belongs to each function ) Is provided with a backup means. In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 is caused by restoring data belonging to one of a plurality of functions backed up in the storage area to the storage unit, and restoring the data by the restore unit. And a contradiction resolution unit that resolves the inconsistency of the restored data.

Here, the backup unit recognizes based on the meta information of the data, the instruction unit 101 that instructs backup of one function among a plurality of functions, and data belonging to the function instructed by the instruction unit 101. A backup data determination unit 102 that determines the recognized data as data to be backed up, and a backup unit 103 that performs a backup process of the data determined by the backup data determination unit 102.
In addition, the restore means includes a restore target function recognition unit 104 that recognizes which function of the plurality of functions is to be restored, and data that belongs to the function recognized by the restore target function recognition unit 104. It has a restore data determination unit 105 that recognizes based on the information and determines the recognized data as data to be restored, and a restore unit 106 that executes a restore process of the data determined by the restore data determination unit 105.

  Since the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 are configured in this way, the data of the image forming apparatus 1 is backed up to the server 4 in units of functions, and the data backed up in the units of functions in the server 4 is stored in the image forming apparatus. By restoring (duplicating) to 2, the functions of both the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 can be used in the image forming apparatus 2. Further, even if the image forming apparatus 1 or 2 installed so far is replaced with an image forming apparatus different from the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2, if the image forming apparatus has the same configuration, the server By restoring (duplicating) the data backed up in function unit 4 to the replaced image forming apparatus, the same function can be used continuously.

As described above, the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 according to the present embodiment include both a backup unit and a restore unit.
However, the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 do not necessarily include both the backup unit and the restore unit, and are preferably devices including either the backup unit or the restore unit.

For example, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a storage unit that stores a program for realizing the function provided for each of a plurality of functions, data referred to by the program, and data stored in the storage unit. A device having backup means for backing up data belonging to the function to a storage area different from the storage unit for each of a plurality of functions may be used.
Then, the image forming apparatus 2 restores a storage unit that stores programs for realizing a plurality of functions of the apparatus and data belonging to one of the plurality of functions from a storage area different from the storage unit. The apparatus may include a restore unit and a contradiction resolution unit that resolves a contradiction with respect to the restored data that is caused by the data restoration by the restore unit. Further, the restoration unit may be rephrased as a duplication unit. In other words, the image forming apparatus 2 has a plurality of functions and stores a program for realizing the functions, and stores data belonging to one of the functions from a storage area different from the storage unit. It may be an apparatus having a duplicating unit for duplicating and a contradiction solving unit for solving the contradiction about the duplicated data caused by the duplication of data by the duplicating unit.

  Even in such a case, data of the image forming apparatus 1 is backed up to the server 4 in units of functions, and the data backed up in units of functions in the server 4 is restored (replicated) to the image forming apparatus 2, thereby forming an image. The functions of both the apparatuses 1 and 2 can be used in the image forming apparatus 2 as well.

  In the above items, the image forming apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 2 are both connected to the LAN 3. However, the present invention is not limited to such an aspect. That is, after the data of the image forming apparatus 1 connected to the LAN 3 is backed up to the server 4, the image forming apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 2 are exchanged, and the data backed up from the image forming apparatus 1 to the replaced image forming apparatus 2. May be duplicated. Even in this mode, the functions of both the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 can be continuously used in the image forming apparatus 2 as in the case of the image forming apparatus 1.

  The control unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 includes a plurality of data stored in a storage unit (external storage unit 40 and / or ROM) provided in the image forming apparatus 1 that is a device having a plurality of functions. Backup means for backing up data belonging to the function for each function to a storage area different from the storage section, and data belonging to one of the functions among the data backed up to the storage area to the storage section The control device may include a restore unit that restores and a contradiction resolution unit that resolves a contradiction about the restored data that has occurred due to data restoration by the restore unit.

  The image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 configured as in the above-described embodiment can back up and restore data belonging to the function in units of functions. As a result, the time required for one backup process can be shortened as compared to backing up all the data stored in the storage device inside the image forming apparatus at once.

  In the above-described embodiment, the storage device in the server 4 connected to the LAN 3 is exemplified as the storage area of the data backup destination. However, a portable semiconductor memory such as a USB memory may be used. Further, the image forming apparatuses 1 and 2 are provided with a hard disk drive for backing up data, and backup target data stored in the ROM of the external storage unit 40 or the control unit 10 is stored in the hard disk drive. Good.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the network system which concerns on this Embodiment. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a relationship between a program belonging to a function in the image forming apparatus and data. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the backup process which a control part performs. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the restore process which a control part performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 ... Image forming apparatus, 3 ... LAN, 4 ... Server, 10 ... Control part, 20 ... Image forming part, 30 ... Image reading part, 40 ... External storage part, 50 ... Network connection part, 60 ... Communication line connection , 70 ... operation part, 101 ... instruction part, 102 ... backup data decision part, 103 ... backup part, 104 ... restore target function recognition part, 105 ... restore data decision part, 106 ... restore part, 107 ... contradiction resolution part

Claims (10)

A storage unit for storing a program for realizing the function provided for each of a plurality of functions, and data referred to by the program;
Backup means for backing up data belonging to the function for each of the plurality of functions to a storage area different from the storage unit among the data stored in the storage unit;
Restore means for restoring data belonging to one function among the plurality of functions backed up in the storage area to the storage unit;
An apparatus having a plurality of functions including a contradiction resolving unit for resolving a contradiction with respect to restored data caused by data restoration by the restoration unit. The apparatus having a plurality of functions according to claim 1, wherein the backup unit determines data to be backed up based on meta information of data stored in the storage unit. The plurality of functions according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the restore unit grasps data to be restored based on meta information of data backed up in the storage area, and restores the data. apparatus. The contradiction resolution unit is inconsistent with data referring to one of the data restored by the restore unit when a conflict occurs in one of the data restored by the restore unit. 4. The reference relationship between the data in which the contradiction occurs and the data referred to by the data in which the contradiction is referred to is eliminated. A device having multiple functions. The contradiction resolving unit, when a contradiction occurs in a program referring to one of the data restored by the restore unit, the program in which the contradiction occurs and the data referred to by the program The apparatus having a plurality of functions according to claim 1, wherein the reference relationship is canceled. A storage unit for storing a program for realizing the function provided for each of a plurality of functions, and data referred to by the program;
An apparatus having a plurality of functions including backup means for backing up data belonging to the function for each of the plurality of functions to a storage area different from the storage unit among the data stored in the storage unit. The backup means includes
An instruction unit for instructing backup of one of the plurality of functions;
A backup data determination unit that recognizes data belonging to the function instructed by the instruction unit based on meta information of the data, and determines the recognized data as data to be backed up;
The apparatus having a plurality of functions according to claim 6, further comprising: a backup unit that executes a backup process of data determined by the backup data determination unit. A storage unit for storing a program for realizing a plurality of functions of the apparatus;
Replication means for replicating data belonging to one of the plurality of functions from a storage area different from the storage unit;
An apparatus having a plurality of functions including a contradiction resolution unit that resolves a contradiction with respect to replicated data caused by data replication by the replication unit. The duplicating means includes
A replication target function recognition unit that recognizes which function of the plurality of functions is to be replicated;
A replication data determination unit that recognizes data belonging to the function recognized by the replication target function recognition unit based on meta information of the data, and determines the recognized data as replication target data;
The apparatus having a plurality of functions according to claim 8, further comprising: a replication execution unit that executes a replication process of data determined by the replication data determination unit. Backup means for backing up data belonging to the function for each of the plurality of functions to a storage area different from the storage unit among the data stored in the storage unit provided in another device having a plurality of functions;
Restore means for restoring data belonging to one function among the plurality of functions among the data backed up in the storage area to the storage unit;
A control device comprising: a contradiction resolution unit that resolves a contradiction with respect to the restored data caused by the restoration of the data by the restore unit.

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