JP2010218111A - Image forming apparatus and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus and an information processing method for transferring a log by properly handling an object. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus connected through a network to a plurality of log collection devices is provided with a log transfer means for transferring a log recorded in the storage means of the image forming apparatus to each of the plurality of log collection devices based on the address information of the log collection/generation device corresponding to the first object stored in the first object to be generated for each log collection device. The first object is generated every time the log is transferred to the log collection device corresponding to the first object. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an information processing method, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus and an information processing method for executing log transfer processing using an object.

  In recent years, object-oriented programming has become widespread (for example, Patent Document 1). In object-oriented programming, an entity that provides a predetermined function is modeled as an object, and a predetermined function can be realized by sending a predetermined message to the object.

  The inventor of the present application has applied object-oriented programming to a system that manages logs accumulated in an image forming apparatus. In this system, logs relating to one image forming apparatus are distributed and managed in a plurality of servers. In such a system configuration, it is necessary to hold management information having the same configuration, such as information on a log transfer destination and a progress status of log transfer processing, for each server. According to object-oriented programming, it is possible to simplify management of the management information by defining a class corresponding to the configuration of the management information and generating an instance (object) of the class for each server.

  However, in object-oriented programming, if the object itself is not properly managed or handled, there is a risk of causing an illegal operation of the program.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus and an information processing method capable of appropriately handling an object and executing log transfer.

  Accordingly, in order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus connected to a plurality of log collecting apparatuses via a network, and logs recorded in a storage unit of the image forming apparatus are collected by the log collecting apparatus. Log transfer that is stored in the first object generated for each device and that is transferred to each of the plurality of log collection information devices based on the address information of the log collection generation device corresponding to the first object The first object is generated each time a log is transferred to the log collection device to which the first object corresponds.

  In such an image forming apparatus, log transfer can be executed by appropriately handling an object.

  Log forwarding can be performed by properly handling objects.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration example in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the class structural example of a log transfer part. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the problem in 1st embodiment. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the problem in 1st embodiment. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the process sequence which solved the problem in 1st embodiment. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the problem in 2nd embodiment. It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating the process sequence which solved the problem in 2nd embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration in the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 10 includes a plurality of log collection servers 20 such as a log collection server 20a, a log collection server 20b, and a log collection server 20c, and a network (wired or wireless) such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. It does not matter if it is different.)

  Each log collection server 20 is a computer that collects and manages logs (logs output from various programs) generated in the image forming apparatus 10. The reason why the plurality of log collection servers 20 correspond to one image forming apparatus 10 is to prevent missing logs. That is, even if the transfer of the log to any one of the log collection servers 20 fails, it is possible to avoid the loss of the log by transferring the logs to another log collection server 20. However, the log collection server 20 of the management entity may be changed according to the type of log.

  The image forming apparatus 10 is a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, a scanner, or a multifunction machine. In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a log transfer unit 121, a log transfer setting information storage unit 122, a log transfer management information storage unit 123, a log storage unit 124, and the like.

  The log storage unit 124 is a storage area in which logs output by various programs (not shown) are recorded in the storage device of the image forming apparatus 10. The log transfer unit 121 is a program that causes the image forming apparatus 10 to execute processing for transferring the log recorded in the log storage unit 124 to each log collection server 20. The log transfer setting information storage unit 122 is setting information related to log transfer in the storage device of the image forming apparatus 10 (for example, information in which transfer timing, which log collection server 20 is set as a transfer destination, etc.) is set. Is a storage area in which is stored. The log transfer management information storage unit 123 is a storage area for storing information (log transfer management information) for managing log transfer processing in the storage device of the image forming apparatus 10.

  The log transfer unit 121 will be described in more detail. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a class configuration example of the log transfer unit. In the drawing, the log transfer unit 121 includes a log transfer controller class 1211, a log transfer setting management class 1212, a log transfer management information class 1213, a log transfer status class 1214, and the like.

  The log transfer controller class 1211 is a class for controlling log transfer processing, and one instance (hereinafter referred to as “log transfer controller object 1211I”) is generated in one image forming apparatus 10.

  An instance of the log transfer setting management class 1212 (hereinafter referred to as “log transfer setting management object 1212I”) loads and manages the persistent log transfer setting information storage unit 122 on the memory. In other words, the log transfer setting attribute of the log transfer setting management class 1212 and the transfer ON / OFF setting attribute by transfer destination store the log transfer setting information stored in the log transfer setting information storage unit 122 using the memory. Attribute. The log transfer timing attribute indicates the log transfer timing. In this embodiment, as the timing, when the log is generated (every time the log is written to the log storage unit 124), or when the log storage unit 124 is near full (when the free capacity of the log storage unit 124 becomes equal to or less than the threshold value). ) Can be selectively set. The setting for each transfer destination ON / OFF attribute indicates whether the log is to be transferred to each log transfer destination (in this embodiment, for each log collection server 20) (ON) or not (OFF). One log transfer setting management object 1212I is generated in one image forming apparatus 10-. That is, the setting contents of the log transfer setting information are common regardless of the log transfer destination.

  An instance of the log transfer management information class 1213 (hereinafter referred to as “log transfer management information object 1213I”) loads the log transfer management information stored in the log transfer management information storage unit 123 that has been made permanent into the memory. And manage. That is, the transfer destination ID attribute, transfer destination URL attribute, transfer start log ID attribute, transfer end log ID attribute, transferred log ID attribute, and transfer result attribute of the log transfer management information class 1213 store the log transfer management information in the memory. It is an attribute for use and storage. The transfer destination ID attribute is an identifier of the log collection server 20 as a log transfer destination. The transfer destination URL attribute is a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the log collection server 20 as a log transfer destination, and is a specific example of address information of the log collection server 20 in the present embodiment. As the address information, other information such as an IP address may be used according to the communication protocol used for log transfer. The transfer start log ID attribute and the transfer end log ID attribute indicate a transfer target range in the logs stored in the log storage unit 124. That is, each log is given an identifier called a log ID and stored in the log storage unit 124. The transfer start log ID attribute and the transfer end log ID attribute indicate the start position or end position of the transfer target by the log ID. The transferred log ID attribute is the log ID of the last log transferred by the log transfer process. The transfer result attribute indicates success or failure of log transfer processing.

  The log transfer management information class 1213 also has a log transfer management information acquisition method. The log transfer management information acquisition method returns the value of each attribute of the log transfer management information class 1213. The log transfer management information object 1213I is generated for each log transfer destination (for each log collection server 20). That is, the log transfer management information storage unit 123 stores the value of each attribute of the log transfer management information class 1213 for each log collection server 20.

  The log transfer status class 1214 is a class for managing the status of log transfer processing, and an instance thereof (hereinafter referred to as “log transfer status object 1214I”) is generated for each log transfer destination. That is, the log transfer status object 1214I manages the status of log transfer processing for the corresponding log collection server 20. The log transfer status class 1214 has a transfer destination ID attribute, a transfer failure flag attribute, a transfer failure count attribute, a retry time attribute, and the like. The transfer destination ID attribute is an identifier of the log collection server 10 that is a transfer destination in the log transfer process. The transfer failure flag attribute is a flag attribute indicating success or failure of transfer processing. The transfer failure count attribute indicates the number of times that transfer (retry) of the same log has failed. The retry time attribute indicates a retry interval.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration example of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 3, the image forming apparatus 10 includes hardware such as a controller 11, a scanner 12, a printer 13, a modem 14, an operation panel 15, a network interface 16, and an SD card slot 17.

  The controller 11 includes a CPU 111, a RAM 112, a ROM 113, an HDD 114, and the like. The ROM 113 stores various programs and data used by the programs. The RAM 112 is used as a storage area for loading a program, a work area for the loaded program, and the like. The CPU 111 realizes various functions by processing a program loaded in the RAM 112. The HDD 114 records programs and various data used by the programs.

  The scanner 12 is hardware for reading image data from a document. The printer 13 is hardware for printing image data on printing paper. The modem 14 is hardware for connecting to a telephone line, and is used to execute transmission / reception of image data by FAX communication. The operation panel 15 is hardware including input means such as buttons for accepting input from a user and display means such as a liquid crystal panel. The network interface 16 is hardware for connecting to a network such as a LAN (whether wired or wireless). The SD card slot 17 is used for reading a program recorded on the SD card 80. That is, in the image forming apparatus 10, not only the program recorded in the ROM 113 but also the program recorded in the SD card 80 can be loaded into the RAM 112 and executed.

  Hereinafter, regarding the log transfer unit of the image forming apparatus 10, two problems that occurred during development and solutions to the problems will be described separately for each embodiment.

  In the first embodiment, a management method of the log transfer management information object 1213I on the RAM 112 will be described. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a problem in the first embodiment. In the figure, alphabets (a, b, and hc) attached after the reference number of each log transfer management information object 1213I indicate the log collection server 20 to which each log transfer management information object 1213I corresponds. That is, the alphabet matches the alphabet added after the reference number of the corresponding log collection server 20. Such notation is the same for other objects and other drawings.

  As described in FIG. 2, the log transfer management information object 1213I is instantiated for each transfer destination (for each log collection server 20). Normally (when normal), as shown in FIG. 5A, the pointers (or references may be used for each log transfer management object) are managed by the array A. In the present embodiment, the pointers are unified. . However, in the process of repeating the distribution process, a phenomenon as shown in FIG. That is, this is a phenomenon in which the pointer of the log transfer management information object 1213Ia is stored in the second element that should store the pointer of the log transfer management information object 1213Ib in the array A. When such a phenomenon occurs, processing as shown in FIG. 5 is executed.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining problems in the first embodiment. In FIG. 5, the processing related to the log transfer setting management object 1212I and the log transfer status object 1214I is omitted for convenience.

  When the log transfer controller object 1211I detects the arrival of the log transfer timing, the log transfer controller object 1211I acquires the log transfer management information related to the log collection server 20a with respect to the log transfer management information object 1213Ia indicated by the pointer of the first element of the array A. Is requested (S101). In response to the request, the log transfer management information object 1213Ia returns a set of its own attribute values as log transfer management information (S102).

  Subsequently, the log transfer controller object 1211I acquires the log to be transferred from the log storage unit 12 based on the values of the transfer start log ID attribute and the transfer end log ID attribute in the acquired log transfer management information. (S103). Subsequently, the log transfer controller object 1211I transfers the acquired log addressed to the transfer destination URL (that is, addressed to the log collection server 20a) in the acquired log transfer management information (S104). After the log transfer is completed, the log transfer controller object 1211I sets (updates) the values of the transferred log ID attribute and the transfer result attribute in the log transfer management information object 1213Ia (S105).

  Subsequently, the log transfer controller object 1211I executes processing similar to steps S101 to S105 using the pointer of the second element of the array A in order to transfer the log to the log collection server 20b (S111 to S115). . However, in the state of FIG. 4B, the pointer of the second element of the array A relates to the log transfer management information object 1213Ia corresponding to the log collection server 20a. As a result, the log to be transferred to the log collection server 20b has been transferred to the log collection server b.

  In the example of FIG. 4B, the third element of the array A stores the pointer of the log transfer management object c corresponding to the log collection server 20c. Therefore, in steps S121 to S125, log transfer is normally executed to the log collection server 20c.

  One possible cause of the above problems is that the same log transfer management information object 1213I is used in log transfer processing that is repeatedly executed while the image forming apparatus 10 is activated. Can be mentioned. For this reason, the array A for managing the log transfer management information object 1213I is necessary, and the use of the array A creates room for illegal operations.

  Next, an example in which the above problems are solved will be described. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining a processing procedure for solving the problem in the first embodiment.

  When the log transfer controller object 1211I detects the arrival of the log transfer timing, the log transfer controller object 1211I specifies the transfer destination ID corresponding to the log collection server 20a and generates the log transfer management information object 1213Ia (S201). The log transfer management information object 1213Ia loads the log transfer management information corresponding to the designated transfer destination ID from the log transfer management information storage unit 123 in the constructor.

  Subsequent steps S202 to S206 are the same as steps S101 to S105 in FIG. Subsequent to step S206, the log transfer controller object 1211I discards the log transfer management information object 1213Ia (S207). The log transfer management information object 1213Ia writes the attribute value set to the log transfer management information storage unit 123 in response to the discard (in the destructor).

  That is, in FIG. 6, a log transfer management information object 1213I corresponding to the transfer destination is generated every time the log is transferred. As a result, it is not necessary to manage the log transfer management information object 1213I by the array A, and it is possible to eliminate the room for pointer replacement in the array A and the like. As a result, in steps S211 to S217 and steps S221 to S227, log transfer processing to the log collection server 20b and the log collection server 20c is normally performed according to the same procedure as steps S201 to S207. In step S211, the transfer destination ID for the log collection server 20b is designated, and in step S221, the transfer destination ID for the log collection server 20c is designated to generate the log transfer management information object 1213I.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the log transfer setting management object 1212I will be mainly described, and the process related to the log transfer management information object 1213I is omitted for convenience.

  FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram for explaining problems in the second embodiment.

  When the log transfer controller object 1211I detects that the log storage unit 124 is near full (S301), the log transfer controller object 1211I inquires the log transfer setting management object 1212I about the log transfer timing in order to confirm whether or not the log transfer is necessary (S302). The near full detection by the log transfer controller object 1211I may be performed by any method. For example, the log transfer controller object 1211I may periodically monitor the free capacity of the log storage unit 124, or may be notified of near full from another program component that is monitoring the free capacity.

  In response to the inquiry from the log transfer controller object 1211I, the log transfer setting management object 1212I returns the value set in its own log transfer timing attribute (S303). Here, it is assumed that “when near full” is set in the log transfer timing attribute. Therefore, “when near full” is returned to the log transfer controller object 1211I.

  The log transfer controller object 1211I receives the response “when near full”, determines that it is necessary to transfer the log in response to the detection of near full, and transfers the log to the log collection server 20a (S304). Here, it is assumed that the transfer of the log has failed due to a communication abnormality or the like (S305). In response to the log transfer failure, the log transfer controller object 1211I acquires the log transfer status object 1214Ia corresponding to the log collection server 20a based on the transfer destination ID, and sets the transfer failure flag attribute of the log transfer status object 1214Ia to “ “ON (failed)” is set (S306).

  Subsequently, the log transfer to the log collection servers 20b and 20c is executed by the same procedure as in steps S302 to S305 (S312 to S315, S322 to S325). It is assumed that the log transfer to the log collection servers 20b and 20c is successful (S315, S325).

  Thereafter, when the log transfer controller object 1211I detects the occurrence of writing of a new log to the log storage unit 124 (log generation) (S351), the log transfer setting management object is used to confirm the necessity of log transfer. An inquiry is made to 1212I about the log transfer timing (S352). In response to the inquiry, the log transfer setting management unit acquires the value of the transfer failure flag attribute of the log transfer status object 1214Ia corresponding to the log collection server 20a (that is, the success or failure of the previous log transfer process) (S353, S354). ). Since the value of the transfer failure flag attribute is set to “ON” in step S306, “ON” is acquired in step S354.

  Although omitted in the description of steps S302 to S325, the log transfer setting management object 1212I responds to the transfer timing inquiry and the log transfer state corresponding to the transfer destination ID specified by the log transfer controller object 1211I in the inquiry. The value of the transfer failure flag attribute of the object 1214I is acquired. Even if the value of the log transfer timing attribute is “near full” when the value of the transfer failure flag attribute is “ON” (that is, when the previous transfer process has failed) This is because log transfer is to be executed according to the occurrence of the log. By doing so, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience that the transfer of the log is postponed until the next near full occurs when the previous transfer process fails.

  In order to implement such a mechanism, following step S353, the log transfer setting management object 1212I temporarily changes the value of its log transfer timing attribute to “when log occurs” (S355), and changes the changed value to It returns to the log transfer controller object 1211I (S357). The log transfer setting management object 1212I sets the log transfer timing attribute to the original value (“near full” immediately before returning the changed value (strictly, after assigning the changed value to the return value variable). Time ") (S356).

  The log transfer controller object 1211I that has received the response “when log is generated” determines that it is necessary to transfer the log in response to detection of the log generation, and transfers the log to the log collection server 20a (S358, S359). . Thereby, the transfer process with respect to the log collection server 20a which failed last time can be performed at an early stage.

  However, while the value of the log transfer timing attribute of the log transfer setting management object 1212I is temporarily changed to “when log is generated”, the log transfer controller inquires about the log transfer timing related to the transfer to the log collection server 20b. There is a case where it is performed from the object 1211I (S362). That is, in steps S302 to S325, the transfer processing for each log collection server 20 is described in series for convenience. However, since the transfer processing is executed by multithreading, it is actually executed in parallel. .

  Then, although the transfer process to the log collection server 20b has not failed last time, the value returned to the step S362 becomes “when log is generated” (S363). As a result, the log transfer controller object 1211I that has received the response executes a transfer process that does not need to be executed for the log collection server 20b (S364, S365). This is a problem in the second embodiment.

  In the example of FIG. 7, the log transfer controller object 1211I makes an inquiry about the log transfer timing regarding the transfer to the log collection server 20c after the log transfer timing value of the log transfer setting management object 1212I is restored. (S372). Therefore, “near full” is returned for the inquiry, and unnecessary log transfer processing to the log collection server 20c is not executed.

  Subsequently, an example in which the problems described above are solved will be described. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram for explaining a processing procedure that solves the problems in the second embodiment. In FIG. 8, the same steps as those in FIG.

  In FIG. 8, steps S301 to S354 are the same as those in FIG. Accordingly, in step S354, “ON” is returned as the value of the log transfer failure flag attribute. In response to this, the log transfer setting management object 1212I generates a copy of its own log transfer timing attribute (strictly, the value of the transfer timing attribute is copied to another variable), and the value of the copy (the other The value of the variable in (1) is changed to “logging in progress” (S355A). In subsequent step S357A, the log transfer setting management object 1212I returns the value of the copy to the log transfer controller object 1211I. That is, the value of the log transfer timing attribute (original) is not changed.

  Therefore, even if the log transfer controller object 1211I inquires about the transfer timing with respect to the log collection server 20b in step S362A, the value of the log transfer timing attribute returned from the log transfer setting management object 1212I is “near full” (S363A). ). Therefore, unnecessary log transfer processing is not executed for the log collection server 20b.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to such specific embodiment, In the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim, various deformation | transformation・ Change is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Controller 12 Scanner 13 Printer 14 Modem 15 Operation panel 16 Network interface 17 SD card slot 20, 20a, 20b, 20c Log collection server 80 SD card 111 CPU
112 RAM
113 ROM
114 HDD
115 Operation Panel 116 Network Interface 121 Log Transfer Unit 122 Log Transfer Setting Information Storage Unit 123 Log Transfer Management Information Storage Unit 124 Log Storage Unit 1211 Log Transfer Controller Class 1212 Log Transfer Setting Management Class 1213 Log Transfer Management Information Class 1214 Log Transfer Status Class

JP 10-49471 A

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus connected to a plurality of log collection devices via a network,
The log information recorded in the storage unit of the image forming apparatus is stored in the first object generated for each log collection apparatus, and the address information of the log collection generation apparatus to which the first object corresponds And log transfer means for transferring to each of the plurality of log collection information devices,
The first object is an image forming apparatus that is generated each time a log is transferred to the log collection apparatus to which the first object corresponds. The log transfer means stores the log transfer timing, and inquires the second object common to the plurality of log collection devices to determine whether the log transfer timing is at the occurrence of the log or whether the log is generated. Judgment
The log transfer means, when the log transfer fails, among the third objects generated for each of the log collection devices, the log transfer means corresponds to the log collection device corresponding to the log transfer destination of the transfer failure. Memorize the log failure information in three objects,
In response to an inquiry about the log transfer timing from the log transfer means, the second object refers to the third object corresponding to the log collection device of the log transfer destination, and previously Check the success or failure of log transfer, and if the previous log transfer failed, do not change the log transfer timing stored in itself, and the log generation time will be the log transfer timing. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, which responds as follows. An information processing method executed by an image forming apparatus connected to a plurality of log collection apparatuses via a network,
The log information recorded in the storage unit of the image forming apparatus is stored in the first object generated for each log collection apparatus, and the address information of the log collection generation apparatus to which the first object corresponds A log transfer procedure for transferring to each of the plurality of log collection information devices,
The information processing method, wherein the first object is generated each time a log is transferred to the log collection device to which the first object corresponds. The log transfer procedure stores the log transfer timing, and inquires of the plurality of log collection devices with a common second object to determine whether the log transfer timing is at the occurrence of the log or whether the log is generated. Procedures to judge,
When the log transfer fails, among the third objects generated for each log collection device, the log of the log to the third object corresponding to the log collection device of the log transfer destination failed. Storing information indicating failure, and
In response to an inquiry about the log transfer timing from the log transfer means, the second object refers to the third object corresponding to the log collection device of the log transfer destination with respect to the previous log collection device. Check the success or failure of log transfer, and if the previous log transfer failed, do not change the log transfer timing stored in itself, and the log generation time will be the log transfer timing. The information processing method according to claim 3, which responds that

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